*Count Tzepesci & The Risen

I'm not an exact fan of the usual Alexia Ciannor & the Risen models, Alexia herself in particular. Don't get me wrong, I love Alexia Xp, and plan on painting her horse like the Ghost Rider's, but the prime model... naaaw. Which is a sad thing, because the unit is very good and would make a sensible addition to my infantry Khador stuff. (That, and Risen are better at jamming because they come back, and are way cheaper than Kayazy or Pikemen which die just as easy these days...)

Brings everything he needs!

Lo' and behold, I've run into this gentleman who apparently would be a nice stand-in. This is the Vampire Count model from Freebooter, and as the caption reads, he's got all he needs - a single, elegant sword. Yes, I'm aware of Alexia's Handcannon, but I seriously can't find it on her model as well. Formerly, I had considered as a Vladimir, Dark Prince stand-in, but he'd need to sword to work (and serious shoulder-paddage).

I'm mostly set on using him for Alexia. The good thing is: I can just buy Risen blisters till I have enough - and when I have to have the original for attending a tournament where this stand-in wouldn't suffice, I can just buy the original box, too. That should give me the 20 Risen I can have and a "real" Alexia.

Also, I'm looking forward to making this guy part of any coming Halloween/Nightmare Scenarios (like the one we'll play in M&tM #76). I can easily imagine him, standing on top off the tower, gathering souls and "guiding" Thralls. But for that to really work, I first need a suitably converted Tower. Till then, farewell!

Artwork & Battery 03

And here is the latest episode of Artwork & Battery!

Artwork & Battery 02

Here the second episode of A&B for your enjoyment!

Artwork & Battery 01

So, for some, these might be old news - but I guess that for enough people, it's not. My brother, Arides, also has a Youtube channel, which he uses to show off painting & similar topics. It'll be regularly featured here (that is, whenever he has the time to make an episode) to up this blog's painting game. Enjoy!

Marth & the Machines #75 - Sorscha Xp v. Gorten & Base, Body, and Beyond

Late issues are late, but the wait is hopefully worth it. We're having a battle between Sorscha Xp and Gorten, as well as another issue of Base, Body, and beyond - on the manhunter.

Enjoy!

Marth & the Machines #74 - Harkevich v. Gorten

In issue #74, Izak Harkevich and Gorten Grundback face off again - in 28 points of Diversion, sporting scared old men, drunk Ogrun, and angy women. And Bunnies!

Afterwards, I'll show you my most recently painted Warjack, "Jozef" the Destroyer. Enjoy!

Creativitymachine: The Queen of Shadows

Not so nice a lady

For this installment of Creativitymachine, I'm striving to put some WM/H rules behind a beautiful model from Freebooter's fate. I got a pair of Brotherhood miniatures already, posing as my second Eliminator team, and I'm quite inspired to use more models from that range as Kayazy models in the Khadoran army.

The model is called "Queen of Shadows" and in my opinion, that already makes for a fitting title for a Warcaster. A Khadoran Kayazy Ally Warcaster, to be more precise. For all her abilities and spells I went to the actual FF rules for inspiration.

In the following crunch part, I'll strive to give explanations why particular choice were made (or wishes are uttered).

Marth & the Machines #73 - Harkevich v. Gorten & HME!

For issue seventy-three, first Izak Harkevich and Gorten Grundback descend into the Mosh Pit with 25 points of companions, and then, we check on how (and if) Stryker manages to escape from the Butcher of Khardov. Enjoy!

Demoboard - Pattern Developments

So, the other day, Arides went ahead and created a .psd file where he went and compiled all the SR 2012 patterns into a single file - and to scale.

This proves quite handy as our LGS has "refitted" one set of tabletop gaming boards to expand their games display, leaving us with one, which we have to share with 40k gamers that come over from the local GW whenever it's too full or busy with other stuff.

Since that situation needs a solution, our WM/H group has briefly been considering doing a kickstarter for new gaming tables. Not in all seriousness, though. However, as we will need another table, I've resorted to using aforementioned .psd file to compile suitable patterns. The idea is this:

Marth & the Machines #72 - Caine v. Jarl

Danger Report! Violence and gunshots in the streets! The gangs of Immoren duking it out! Caine's Gungho Guns v. Jarl's Thornwood Bandits! Film at eleven.

Mission is Close Quarters, point size is 28. Enjoy!

Marth & the Machines #71 - Butcher v. Gorten

In issue #71, two tanks go up against each other, one backed with a lot of experience but a not-top-notch army, the other with a lot less experience, but good coaches. It's 31 points of Overrun, and the adversaries are the Butcher of Khardov and Gorten Grundback, big angry axe man and little hammer dude. And afterwards, we will be having the first installment of "The Faded Black T-Shirt." Enjoy!

Marth & the Machines #70 - Izak Harkevich 1.5 feature

In this issue, you'll get to see my first steps with Harkevich, and a lot of stuff I never really faced before. Enjoy!

Also: check M&tM on Facebook!

Marth & the Machines #69 - Irusk v. Nemo

In this issue, military genius and scientific genius are haggling over who's going to get a boost his budget - quite violently! 35 points of Killing Fields, enjoy! Oh, and remember to look up and like Marth and the Machines on Facebook. I'll do my best to make it beneficial. :-)

"The Numbers' Game" - Basic Round Structure

Design on the "Number's game" has slightly proceeded. Not on the title, though - Suggestions highly appreciated! I did, however, pin down the basic structure of a campaign "round".

Marth & the Machines #68 - and now on Facebook, too!

All that like the show and have an account are invited to join & like & stuff. ;-)

All that like it and do NOT have an account - create one if you want. Just remember: What happens on Facebook, stays on Facebook.

In issue #68, I'm sending Zerkova up against Constance Blaize. Witness one of the most stylish ends ever!

Faded Black T.Shirt - list/caster musings

So, earlier this year I took a trip to attend a Warmachine tournament a little farther away than usually. Back then it was a 42 points / 8 reinforcements, 50 min Chess Clock tournament, with a lot of Legion and Cryx to be expected, and me drawing the other two Khador players. Maybe you remember.

This time around, the set-up has changed significantly. 50 points / 10 reinf., 12 min timed turns. Divide and Conquer as usual, two lists (with the option of bringing a third). That's a lot of points to lug around with you, but I've signed up for the event and am intending to roll with the circumstances.

Today, I want to muse a bit about the lists I'm currently considering to take.

Marth & the Machines #67 - Jarl v. Siege

Holidays are over! Siege and Jarl are kicking off the past-summer action in this fast paced, action-fueled... comedy of errors and display of lacking memory. "Behind enemy lines" turning into "Having no idea". Still, enjoy!

An end is nighing...

...assuming that's even a word. What I'm referring to?

Marth & the Machine's summer holiday vacation is about to end! Expect issue #67 next monday, and another issue every week again!

(Which will last until I completely catch up with my material... and that's not too far off.)

Lt. Caine's GungHo Guns

While M&tM is on Summer Holiday Hiatus, here's a minimal spoiler - a List that I'm going to play in an upcoming report.

Lt. Caine (-6)
Hunter (6)
Defender (9)
Trencher Commandos (min) (6)
Rangers (5)
Black 13th (4) "Lynch the Flare", "Ryan the Magestorm", "Watts the Hotshot"
GMCA (2) "Booth the Assassin"
Squire (2) "Beep-beep the Robot"

Yeah, consider it a Trigun homage. :)

A coloured map

Now, with my exams out of the way, I could go ahead and paint! But as it came... I painted something else. Remember what I posted way back about a "numbers game" campaign system for WM?

Well guess what, something like that needs a map. And while the "Brain Map" idea is nice and will find its use, the following is more what I had in mind.

Druzhina - Test

Testing whether I can share my test-vids here.

Marth & the Machines #66 - Sorscha v. Severius

In issue #66, I'm taking a Sorscha list which is so alternate it's grunge to face Severius again. 35 points of Killbox. Enjoy!

Marth & the Machines #65 - Word-Machine

In this issue, we're pitting strange words and solecism against the OALD. Enjoy, and learn. ;)

Marth & the Machines #64 - Zerkova v. Severius

Pitting two spell-slinging anti-spell slingers against each other, the decision will likely be wrought be some other than a spell. In issue #64, Zerkova goes up against Severius, and only one will get out this head first. Enjoy!

Marth & the Machines #63 - Vladimir Double Feature

Quake, horrors of Immoren! The dark champion is a-coming for ye! This is issue #63 of Marth & the Machines, and a Vladimir Tzepesci double feature - going against Borka the Kegslayer and Thagrosh, the Prophet of Everblight (though not at once). Enjoy!

Vladimir Tzepesci Xp2's feat leaked?

The Khador board is abuzz with a single rumor about legendary Vladimir's feat, and part of his spell list. So apparently, he got Infernal Machine - some find it bewildering that he got a spell originally belonging to Cryx. I find it strange that I never heard Sturm (Watcher), Naaresh/Borka/Barnabas (Iron Flesh), Constance (Transference), Xerxis (Inhospitable Ground) or their respective Factions wondering about these spells. If you read it as "single jack buff with SPD and MAT bonus and Terror", it's easy to be seen. I'm actually grateful it's not another Superiority Caster. Nice change in flavour.

Oh, the feat, I almost forgot:

Fear & Loathing in the 2060's - Shadowrun P&P #02

Here's a quick update since the last post. After my player managed finding the missing person in Prague, they also took a job that led them to New Monaco, and then one where they infiltrated a Royal Dutch Corp. facility bordering the United Netherland's wasteland.

The cast of shadows was:
DaSilva, the Orc Streetsam
Wheelz, the Norm Combat Rigger
Lazarus, the Elf Shaman
Rouge, the Elf Sniper

The Mission assigned to them by (most likely) Mitsuhama: Infiltrate the facility according to plan, grab an important scientist willing to defect, his data, and get out. And things were going smoothly until they reached the scientist, who, however, revealed to them that they were late - the data & stuff had been relocated earlier, he was no longer in charge of the project, and thusly, he wasn't exactly willing to defect anymore. They do manage to convince to leave at any rate, when additional disaster strikes.

Marth & the Machines #62 - Butcher v. Jarl

In this issue, Orsus Zoktavir has a run-in with a running gun - the Devil of the Thornwood. Enjoy!

Marth & the Machines #61 - Zerkova v. Madrak

This is #61, which I also like to call "the start of season 4", but that's just me. What we'll be doing today is watching Lady Z going up against "Le Brique" under Madrak Ironhide two times, with one of those going significantly better than the other one.

There'll also be some harsh weather effects involved - we're trying them out for the campaign. Enjoy!

Theatre of War Mk II - Campaign Round 1 Redux

I promised "full" coverage over on dicerage.com, but it's not going to be fully "full". Doing each match is tedious work and probably not as thrilling. So therefore, I'll be giving you a redux each round, covering the situation at the start of the round, the orders given, the conflicts ensuing, and their resolution. I'll try to wedge in pictures where possible and present. I'll also give some insight into the ongoing changes to the system and the specials that'll kick in. Enjoy!

Wargaming Mind

Today I got something very interesting from a salesman at work - post-its in brain shape. They were actually doing advertising for a brain-"dysfunctions" prevention medicine, but that's not what stimulated me. It's just that, by looking at this post-it, I got to realize how crammed my brain is with Warmachine.

The knight in coal-stained armour

Enter the Spriggan. It's Khador's most expensive non-Character Warjack. It's like the amalgamation of Knight with lance and shield, his horse, and warjack, all riveted together by pure awesomeness.

Marth & the Machines # 60 - Zerkova v. Nemo

This time, I'm playing - or rather, I was, the pictures are from last octobre, methinks, we're only very slowly catching up here - Zerkova against Arides' most recent (back then) Nemo list. Enjoy!

The Druzhina - pending list of topics...

... or should I rather call them "lectures"?

At any rate, with the Khador board on PP's forum in a mood of "let's get constructive again", this gave me some incentive to pick up the notes on what I wanted to do in the "Druzhina" video series. Here's my preliminary list of topics I've settled on covering. You are free to comment, in fact, feel encouraged to!

So here - we -go:

Marth & the Machines #59 - Base, Body & Beyond

In this issue, I'm taking a close up look at the Great Bears of Gallowswood, Khador's premiere and most reknown trio of advanced death & destruction. Enjoy!

I invoke the power of the glacial axe!

The Juggernaut.

It's not just a Warjack. It is, in a way, the paragon of all warjacks. When people go mathmachine to calculate their success, they look for the Juggernaut as a point of reference. And if our opponents know about the values of this machine, it proves to us that we would be daft not to take it!

Creativitymachine - Commander Adept Heironymus Jackson

In the PP Forums, things you come up with yourself are generally labelled "homebrews" and at best eyed with scepticism, at worst scowled upon. A favourite of the Khador board - or rather, the idea reappearing the most - is a MoW (centric) caster.

But that's not what this is about. In the articles labelled "Creativitymachine", I will post that which my mind cranks out, and it's pretty active at that. And it's not necessarily Warmachine only. Not that I am a good designer, but my reckoning is that most of the things I come up with range from "not too far-fetched" to "kinda plausible, needs testing".

What I'll present to you today is Commander Adept Heironymus Jackson.

Marth & the Machines #58 - The Hail Mary Effect

In this issue, we're both having the "resolution" of the last THME (Butcher v. Asphyxious), and the next one, where the Butcher puts Stryker in a very bad position. Enjoy!

Marth & the Machines #57 - Butcher v. Garryth

In this issue, the Butcher takes on the elvish assassin, as both fight for control over the Mosh Pit. See how one of them pulls his own weight in a well coordinated attack to win out over the other. Enjoy!

Theatre of War - Developing a WM/H-Campaign...

...with more of a strategic focus. A sketchbook. The current Theatre of War I'm running my campaign with, I cooked up all alone in my room. This time around, I'll post progress, development, and stuff on this blog, to keep you updated.

And what would be greatly appreciated: Feedback via comments.

Marth & the Machines #56 - Butcher v. Nemo

I'm switching to the Butcher with three heavy Warjacks, and run into Commander Adept Nemo, 35 points of Command&Control. Though it turned more into moving&killing. Enjoy!

Slow Growth

So, our Anima Tactics slow growth league is picking up slowly. Each Round, every participant has one game to get done, and each round lasts a month. So time restrictions are as loose as they can get. First round starts with 100 points, and this increases by fifty each round until it caps at 300. Faction/Organisation has to stay the same, but Crew members can be changed.

I chose Light Faction, because I got the starter for that.

Marth & the Machines #55 - Sorscha v. Caine

And here's another one, hot off the press - Sorscha v. Caine! It's the first time Arides and Me break out his fine portable gaming table and have a go. We're still a bit light on terrain, but that'll change... someday! ;)

Until then, Enjoy!

Marth & the Machines #54 - Zerkova v. Kraye

Whoops. Looks like I forgot about posting my videos here. And with this being my own blog! *Gasp*

Here's a very delayed report, coming to you from last year's summer - Zerkova v. Kraye, 35 points, Revelation. Enjoy!

The faded black T-shirt 02

Been to the tournament in Koblenz yesterday. Went... well, the end result turned out way better than I had anticipated. I met some players from last week, which was fun, and my opponents were mostly great to play against. In total, ten people attended (out of an in-tended 16), a lot of them being more or less new to the game.
And to prevent myself from forgetting to mention it later on: My dice were well-behaved. All losses I incurred were due to misplays on my part, which is quite a relief.

Here's my rundown:

Another Prep Game

Tomorrow (Saturday) is the day of another Tourney in Koblenz, this time, at the "Zeitgeist" LGS. In preparation for this, I had another game with Arides. This allowed me to use my second list at least once before the tournament.

It was kinda important, as I am taking Izak Harkevich to completement Zerkova's Hunting Wolves. For scenario, we rolled a classic - Destruction! Size was 35 points, and he was, again, packing Kraye. I think he wants to leave me in the dark about his second list.

The faded black T-shirt 01 (Tourney Update)

So, uh, been to Koblenz, participated in three rounds of Steamroller 2012, as formerly announced.

Didn't do so well, I placed 7th out of 10, which is kind of to be expected when you lose games 1 and 3. Had I won the first one, I might've made 6th, which was my personal goal. First and foremost, thanks to Cidster (the PG) and the players from the CTU LGS. Every opponent - while sometimes taking a little "getting used to" - was a blast to play against.

A short rundown:

Tourney Prep Game

Alright, so next Saturday is the second Steamroller Tournament hosted by CTU Koblenz (a LGS). It's a 35 points, 2-List, 40 minutes Deathclock tournament. The scenarios featured are Overrun, Supply and Demand, A Flag too far, and - if there's a fourth round - Command and Control.

Luckily, I managed to get a practice game in yesterday against Arides. We both had two lists made to choose from, and for scenario we chose Supply and Demand (because I forgot four flags at home and we were playing at our FLGS).

While my brother was playing "unclocked", I tracked my time a special way - I made an iPod playlist which was exactly 40 minutes (well, 40:03...). Due to a lack of pictures taken (and a great number of unprocessed M&tMs), this won't get it's own video report, but I thought it could be worth featuring here.

This year's first tournaments

Here's a short announcement. The CTU, as well as the Zeitgeist (both gaming clubs in Koblenz, FRoG) will be hosting tournaments this March, and I intend to attend both. The second is supposed to be more of a "beginner-friendly" tournament - which for me means "no eVlad." ;-)

The other will be regular. Both will be 35 points, SR 2012. (7 minute turns. *GACK!*)

I hope I do get a game in in the meantime! And that I manage to give you some faster coverage...

Oh my benign God...

Privateer Press has announced... naw, not exactly announced. They put up a video on their site giving you an introduction to what's going to come in 2012 and was foreshadowed on NQ #40s back:

Colossals.

Black Dragon Iron Fang Pikemen

Actually, this is kinda old news by now, but Privateer Press not only provides Khador players with an upgrade kit to change a unit of IFP into Black Dragon Iron Fang Pikemen, no, they also provide an official statcard for an alternate UA. In summary, the main differences are a different "mini-feat" and an ability replacing Relentless Charge.

The Khador forums are abuzz with praise, and I did join in - at least, I ordered all the additional trooper blisters necessary to max out the two IFP units I already had, and soon I'll be fielding two units of them. Well, as soon as they are painted, at least. ;)

Gladly, I've found a fellow german painter and blogger who'd be willing to put with my models. :)

Okay, that's all. Just some rambling about "new" units. Farewell!

Marth & the Machines #53b - Arides vents it!

So, apparently, somebody had to let off some steam. Here's my brothers "rant", if you will, on Cygnar-Merc crossovers, Merc restrictions in tourneys, and stuff. Enjoy!

Marth & the Machines #53 - Tourney double feature

Here's - finally - the double feature covering the tourney I went to last year. Enjoy!

Anima Tactics Impressions

So, there was an Anima Tactics demo day at our FLGS today. I didn't exactly participate (had to leave for a time, then came back), but I used the time to leaf through the Saga II book and to learn rules autodidactically. I wonder if that's even a word. [turns out: it is, and I've been using it correctly! But let's get BTT ASAP]

So during the day, I formed my opinion that it appears to be a visually appealing, fun, real skirmish game (i.e. you don't exeed ten models). The problem with that?

The Druzhina - Preparations

Alright,
 after stumbling onto Mr. Malorians outstanding U-Tube "Podcast" called "The Orc Tactical Team", where he covers numerous aspects of Warhammer Fantasy Battle from a competitive orcish(&goblinish position), and watching through the whole thing, I was stricken with the thought: "Hey, that could work for warmachine, too. Plus, I could do it, and on top of that, it'd be fun."