16
News and Rumors / Re: Kickstarter for 3D Terrain Files
« on: January 19, 2024, 06:00:40 pm »
Thanks for the heads up! It looks like they have made it through most of the stretch goals now.
Have model ships, will game.
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17
News and Rumors / Halo returns
« on: January 05, 2024, 03:20:06 pm »
Mantic has the rights from 343 Industries to produce a new Halo game with previews coming up in March, which I assume means Adepticon...
https://www.manticgames.com/news/on-the-12th-day-of-xmas-special-announcement/
My predictions are...
1. Larger scale miniatures ground skirmish, not compatible with Spartan's HGC...
2. No Vault support due to license control... (please prove me wrong Mantic)
3. And no HFB replacement, until at least 2025...
...anyone else's hopes and dreams?
https://www.manticgames.com/news/on-the-12th-day-of-xmas-special-announcement/
My predictions are...
1. Larger scale miniatures ground skirmish, not compatible with Spartan's HGC...
2. No Vault support due to license control... (please prove me wrong Mantic)
3. And no HFB replacement, until at least 2025...
...anyone else's hopes and dreams?
18
The Shipyard / Re: ...and he never painted again...
« on: December 30, 2023, 02:43:24 pm »
Another year with no resolution for ship painting, and another drop in numbers. Armada had another 17 ships with my third fleet of Dwarves well on the way to being finished…
Only one more Clone Wars 25K ship was added, the second Praetor that was only printed to fill out the build plate of the first, as there are not that many others from the period that I have any interest in modeling...
A new project for Halo Fleet Battles was started this year, with a pair of Marathons and a pair of Valiants so far (one Marathon not pictured due to either being lost in slipspace, or having walked off with one of the children)…
The main cause of the lower counts this year was a four month distraction (so far) of 15mm infantry blocks, but I think with 300 done so far, the bulk of that project is on the way to being finished, and I can get back to more ships. Overall, just 149 ships painted this year, with 127 of those being small scale concepts that still are not ready for photography yet, so my only real goal for 2024 is rounding those out and working out final measurements for them to either be done or dropped.
Happy New Year all!
Only one more Clone Wars 25K ship was added, the second Praetor that was only printed to fill out the build plate of the first, as there are not that many others from the period that I have any interest in modeling...
A new project for Halo Fleet Battles was started this year, with a pair of Marathons and a pair of Valiants so far (one Marathon not pictured due to either being lost in slipspace, or having walked off with one of the children)…
The main cause of the lower counts this year was a four month distraction (so far) of 15mm infantry blocks, but I think with 300 done so far, the bulk of that project is on the way to being finished, and I can get back to more ships. Overall, just 149 ships painted this year, with 127 of those being small scale concepts that still are not ready for photography yet, so my only real goal for 2024 is rounding those out and working out final measurements for them to either be done or dropped.
Happy New Year all!
19
General Discussion / Merry Christmas
« on: December 25, 2023, 09:37:01 am »
Hope everyone has safe travels to and from this Christmas, and makes use of all aids to navigation!
…and don’t forget that next week there will be plenty of light gear and round ornaments on clearance for anyone who may need space scenery.
…and don’t forget that next week there will be plenty of light gear and round ornaments on clearance for anyone who may need space scenery.
20
News and Rumors / Armored Clash from Warcradle
« on: December 03, 2023, 03:41:17 pm »
The announcement and rollout of GW’s Epic has started not a few ripples throughout the miniatures world, the latest of which was Warcradle’s announcement of Armored Clash to be added back into the Dystopian setting…
Right now, the only solid product is under the Warcradle Scenics brand, a modular generic warehouse set with an advertisement of compatibility with Legions Imperialis and Armored Clash…
https://blog.warcradle.com/blog/january-releases-an-epic-battle-tears-through-the-industrial-district
…but no mention of Epic Warpath from Mantic, the second small scale mass battle announced this fall, but that setting is much farther future than either the steampunk of Dystopian Wars or the trademark TM of Games Workshop.
I understand the decision to tie their first release promotionally to LI, but why a generic stack building, why not a harbor, or airfield, or anything that is tangentially related to the core of Dystopian Wars, the sea and sky?
Right now, the only solid product is under the Warcradle Scenics brand, a modular generic warehouse set with an advertisement of compatibility with Legions Imperialis and Armored Clash…
https://blog.warcradle.com/blog/january-releases-an-epic-battle-tears-through-the-industrial-district
…but no mention of Epic Warpath from Mantic, the second small scale mass battle announced this fall, but that setting is much farther future than either the steampunk of Dystopian Wars or the trademark TM of Games Workshop.
I understand the decision to tie their first release promotionally to LI, but why a generic stack building, why not a harbor, or airfield, or anything that is tangentially related to the core of Dystopian Wars, the sea and sky?
21
News and Rumors / Re: Homeworld : Fleet Command
« on: December 03, 2023, 02:58:49 pm »
A month of fulfillment delays on Homeworld Fleet Command so far due to shipping damages to the base boxes, but anyone in North America should have the opportunity to pick up some ding / dent copies after the start of the year according to the last Kickstarter update.
22
Roll Call / Re: Hello! Mike here!
« on: December 03, 2023, 02:53:41 pm »Hello folks. Long-time listener to the show, one-time guest and proponent of the greatness of Man O' War (proof: https://youtu.be/ICdYzKkFZTc?si=s1P395UR-hb7hXRk)Well, you didn't quite convert me on Man O' War, but I enjoyed the lookback. Well done on the video and channel!
23
Historical Naval Games / Re: Open Beta! Playtesting is open for PACIFIC COMMAND
« on: November 22, 2023, 08:24:55 pm »
Thank you, I have my copy printed out and looking forward to going through it.
24
MBS Media / Re: [MBS YouTube] Getting Started in Naval Gaming
« on: November 13, 2023, 12:08:05 am »
Good job on detailing all of the considerations before diving into naval games!
If there is a follow-up video, what about case studies in individual played games that you experienced or saw, specifically on your key cost decisions? i.e. We began playing X after discussing X, Y, and Z... A vetoed Y due to the lack of "blank" and B preferred X over Z despite their being tied on "blank" but with X having greater support of "blank"?
If there is a follow-up video, what about case studies in individual played games that you experienced or saw, specifically on your key cost decisions? i.e. We began playing X after discussing X, Y, and Z... A vetoed Y due to the lack of "blank" and B preferred X over Z despite their being tied on "blank" but with X having greater support of "blank"?
25
News and Rumors / Re: 2023 Great Wargaming Survey
« on: November 12, 2023, 11:55:17 pm »
The most interesting data breakdown of the 2023 Great Wargaming Survey so far is definitely on the issue of unpainted miniatures…
https://www.karwansaraypublishers.com/en-us/blogs/great-wargaming-survey-blog-wss-magazine/gws-2023-unpainted-figures
The respondents to the survey have traditionally skewed towards the massed ranks end of the hobby, decidedly not-naval, and I think that these questions really illustrate that. Apart from overbuying and / or never completing projects which are both personality-based issues, the nature of naval gamingdoes not should not lend itself towards the hundreds or thousands of unpainted models represented here for two reasons…
First, the size of most naval forces represented in games is orders of magnitude smaller than the average land based competing game. The average number of models per player in the average naval game is four to ten, twenty, possibly thirty at the outside (assuming the game is based on squadrons, or the player in question really likes Brute Rams) which can easily be the number of models within a single infantry unit of a land based game. That difference in number of models is totally expected as there have always been more soldiers than ships, regardless of the scale of the game, and also has the benefit that naval gamers never have to concern themselves with any considerations of figure ratios. The only abstracted models that I have seen in play are always elements that could be represented by tokens, such as fighter wings or torpedo spreads, and have only once ever heard a reference applying ratios to actual ships. Their comment was obviously a joke, but historical enthusiasts having to break down units into 1:50 or 1:100 or greater to account for required base sizes is no laughing matter.
Second, I would say that ships as opposed to other tabletop miniatures are far easier to paint given their usual geometric compositions. It simply takes less effort and less time to paint models with little if any complicated textures. Painting tutorials abound in the difficult corners of the hobby, like horses, faces, or tartans which are required for most land based miniatures while ships can be managed with the simplest techniques. A Highlands regiment is a daunting task, and could easily break a painter’s spirit and cause the closeting of that army, while a ship operating off Scotland needs nothing more than traditional gray with a few highlights.
Overall, I do not remember what my answer was at the time of the survey, but I do have hundreds of unpainted models currently with the vast majority of those not being naval so I need to close out the ones that are ships since I really have no excuse not to.
https://www.karwansaraypublishers.com/en-us/blogs/great-wargaming-survey-blog-wss-magazine/gws-2023-unpainted-figures
The respondents to the survey have traditionally skewed towards the massed ranks end of the hobby, decidedly not-naval, and I think that these questions really illustrate that. Apart from overbuying and / or never completing projects which are both personality-based issues, the nature of naval gaming
First, the size of most naval forces represented in games is orders of magnitude smaller than the average land based competing game. The average number of models per player in the average naval game is four to ten, twenty, possibly thirty at the outside (assuming the game is based on squadrons, or the player in question really likes Brute Rams) which can easily be the number of models within a single infantry unit of a land based game. That difference in number of models is totally expected as there have always been more soldiers than ships, regardless of the scale of the game, and also has the benefit that naval gamers never have to concern themselves with any considerations of figure ratios. The only abstracted models that I have seen in play are always elements that could be represented by tokens, such as fighter wings or torpedo spreads, and have only once ever heard a reference applying ratios to actual ships. Their comment was obviously a joke, but historical enthusiasts having to break down units into 1:50 or 1:100 or greater to account for required base sizes is no laughing matter.
Second, I would say that ships as opposed to other tabletop miniatures are far easier to paint given their usual geometric compositions. It simply takes less effort and less time to paint models with little if any complicated textures. Painting tutorials abound in the difficult corners of the hobby, like horses, faces, or tartans which are required for most land based miniatures while ships can be managed with the simplest techniques. A Highlands regiment is a daunting task, and could easily break a painter’s spirit and cause the closeting of that army, while a ship operating off Scotland needs nothing more than traditional gray with a few highlights.
Overall, I do not remember what my answer was at the time of the survey, but I do have hundreds of unpainted models currently with the vast majority of those not being naval so I need to close out the ones that are ships since I really have no excuse not to.
26
The Shipyard / Re: Armada Conversions
« on: October 31, 2023, 01:57:51 am »
One of the first thoughts I had for Mantic Vault models was using translucence by printing in clear resin, and the Trident Realms release gave me the perfect subject to finally test.
The Kyr Angler was printed with plain clear resin as I have not yet tested out how dye ratios will affect the curing process, and after hollowing out, the glowing portions just received a plain blue wash. The remainder of the model was primed with a brush and then built up around the glow parts. During the painting process, I held the model up to a lamp for light-proofing and mostly kept the appropriate areas together, but I definitely should have stretched the stl out wider for ease of access on the inscribed back plates as I did lose some detail along the spine.
Three trials so far, and nothing is set yet on the final lighting… the latest is a set of cut-down Christmas lights, but I definitely will be using this on a 75mm base to represent the Kraken from the base scenarios which should allow plenty of room for batteries within.
Will I do an entirely lighted fleet? Not anytime soon, or probably ever… this took far longer than any other conversion, but I am glad I have at least this one as a scenario centerpiece.
The Kyr Angler was printed with plain clear resin as I have not yet tested out how dye ratios will affect the curing process, and after hollowing out, the glowing portions just received a plain blue wash. The remainder of the model was primed with a brush and then built up around the glow parts. During the painting process, I held the model up to a lamp for light-proofing and mostly kept the appropriate areas together, but I definitely should have stretched the stl out wider for ease of access on the inscribed back plates as I did lose some detail along the spine.
Three trials so far, and nothing is set yet on the final lighting… the latest is a set of cut-down Christmas lights, but I definitely will be using this on a 75mm base to represent the Kraken from the base scenarios which should allow plenty of room for batteries within.
Will I do an entirely lighted fleet? Not anytime soon, or probably ever… this took far longer than any other conversion, but I am glad I have at least this one as a scenario centerpiece.
27
News and Rumors / Re: Armada Campaign: Shadowed Horizons
« on: October 21, 2023, 10:41:02 pm »
The Shadowed Horizons campaign for 2023 wrapped up earlier this month, and Armada made up almost 6% of the total games played. So not the best showing, but most of the decisions being voted upon by good-side players vs. evil-side players were explicitly tied to the ground campaign represented by Kings of War and Ambush, and the scenario special rules each week were only applicable to Armada by the barest margins.
That being said, I do not see any reason why Armada would not be included in the next worldwide campaign, and will definitely be prepared for 2024, especially after seeing how much proportional impact each Armada game would have on the totals.
That being said, I do not see any reason why Armada would not be included in the next worldwide campaign, and will definitely be prepared for 2024, especially after seeing how much proportional impact each Armada game would have on the totals.
28
News and Rumors / Re: Homeworld : Fleet Command
« on: October 21, 2023, 10:38:56 pm »
Fulfillment has started now for some regions, with mid-November being the most likely delivery date for most, and with that, December presales are being put up on Modiphius’ site for anyone outside of the crowdfunding campaign. No updates yet on the forum distributions of templates, but they will probably follow the same form as their other RPG support subforums.
https://modiphius.us/collections/homeworld-fleet-command
https://modiphius.us/collections/homeworld-fleet-command
29
The Showcase / Re: BFG Narrative Project
« on: October 12, 2023, 06:28:52 pm »
Impressive! I would be very interested in hearing a long form breakdown of how you planned / organized / finished this model set for your event in either an article or episode...
30
General Discussion / Re: Perspectives on progress
« on: September 30, 2023, 06:41:39 pm »As we say in the business world, "That which is measured, gets moved."Moving is exactly what I am looking for, self-imposed deadlines for faster turnaround is the only chance I have of ever finishing up projects...
As for your analysis of your progress, I feel there is a parameter you might have missed.; How often does your collection get utilized for one of its purposes, or in blunt terms, how frequently do you play?.Frequently and play have never been in the same sentence as far my hobby goes unfortunately, but then again if I was able to play every week (or month
) I would never have had the time to have made a fraction of these, so honestly I do not know what I would prioritize if I was starting all over again with a new schedule...Having limited resources, including space, I have a personal rule; For my forces, any army/fleet that I do not use at least once a year gets moved to a list for disposal -For releasing miniatures back into the wild, I am on the 15 year plan, and so far that has only been for mint in box items and I honestly do not know if I could part with anything that had finally made it through the painting gauntlet.