So, This is How This Hobby Works.....

I've started painting again. It's been just over six years since I've painted miniatures on a regular basis. I have say I've missed it and it feels like I'm learning it for the first time all over again.

I started with a Dark Eldar Archon, something to see how bad my skills have diminished, test out some colors I wanted to use for my wyches and to see if my hands could handle the pain of holding a brush again.

I had no idea where to start. It honestly felt like I was picking up the hobby for the first time. I couldn't decide on colors. I had to refresh my knowledge on how to mix, shade, highlight and blend properly because I really forgot what I was doing. It didn't feel comfortable and I didn't like it. I was at the farthest opposite of where I was six years ago. I missed it horribly though, it gave me that warm fuzzy

At one point I was trying to work on a burgundy that I wanted use, and for the life of me I could not nail the depth I wanted. No matter how much I darkened or lightened it, I couldn't see any change in the color. It could be that my eyes are just that bad, the lighting was just that bad, I wasn't getting the change in color I was looking for to begin with or all of the above. Just have to keep at it. I had an easier time with the purple I was using on the cloak.

My hands held up pretty good. Dealing with nerve damage, not a fun at all, I don't recommend it. I only had to take a few breaks and kept to a slow place. I did try to rush it on few spots and that's when the pain flared up. At least it gave me an idea of where my limits are.

The Archon isn't finished just yet. I want to attempt some more progress on that burgundy. I need to paint the dagger hilt and scabbard and finished off some highlights and shading. I have decided to go with a completely different look for my Lelith and my wyches though. For the armor I'm going with lighter earth tones, the flesh will be similar to the pale icy blue used on the Blighted Nyss but not an exact shade, more of an "inspired by" kind of thing. Lastly I will be using a wide range of anime inspired hair colors, which I know is overdone a bit and something that is not always done well, it doesn't always look right but I have no choice, it's in my nature. I will try to remember to post some work in progress pics.

The Dark Eldar are going to be a very slow build. I went in before the wyches got spayed in the newest codex. I still want an entirely wych themed army, but I'm not going out of my way to build it up. I'm looking beyond to my Imperial Fists and the Sisters of Eternal Mercy kickstarter.

Adeptus Infernus 009

We're back after long break with a truck load of talk on Blood Angels, End Times for 40K, Blood Angels, Smaug, Blood Angels, Games Workshop & Blizzard, Blood Angels, Descendants of Isha, Blood Angels, Forge World, Blood Angels and Warmachine. Did I mention Blood Angels? Becasue I think we talk about some Blood Angels stuff.

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Email: howigeek@comcast.net

Warhammer 40000 Conquest - Dark Eldar Review Part 001 Packmaster Kith

First in a series of faction reviews for the Warhammer 40000 Conquest starter box. These are not intended for competitive play, there are bunch better sources out there for that and I don't see Conquest having a competitive community in  the Michiana area and my neck of Northwest Indiana. This just gives me something to write and maybe help some gamers that may have interest in the game but have yet to pull the trigger on it.

With these faction reviews I will break them down so that I'm not going over every single card in one go, making for a lengthy read. I'll start with the Warlords and their signature cards and maybe any other cards that tire directly into the Warlords theme. Following posts will cover units, attachments, events, locations and ally cards respectively.

Why Dark Eldar first? Well, because there isn't an Adepta Sororitas/Sisters of Battle faction yet and Dark Eldar is the army I'm into right now in 40K despite having lousy new codex.

The Dark Eldar's starting Warlord is Packmaster Kith. Her traits include Warrior, Succubus and Wych. Kith has the basic starting pool seven resources and cards with an attack of 2 and 6 health. Kith's ability allows her to put a Khymera into play at whatever planet she commits to. This base theme to Kith's signature cards as well.

In the Packmaster's signature cards are four Kith's Khymeramasters. These guys cost 2 resources, have 1 command, 1 attack and 2 health. As a reaction after entering play these beastmasters allow you put a Khymera into play. See where this is going?

To give this Warlord some mobility we get the Khymera Den. A 1 resource location that allows you to exhaust it move any number of Khymera you control to a target planet. this can be incredibly helpful to shore up an important battle or to save these cute and cuddly hellbeasts from getting slaughtered.

Continuing with the Khymera theme is the Agoniser of Bren, a 1 resource attachment that also boasts 3 shield points. This weapon when attached to an army unit confers +1 attack for each Khymera you control. Too bad this is a signature card.

 

Skipping past the last signature card is the Beasthunter Wyches at 3 resources, 2 command, 1 attack and 3 health. This wych card allows you pay 1 resource for another Khymera to be put into play your HQ after playing a Dark Eldar event card. This unit is going to have some circumstantial usefulness, but gives you another outlet to get Khymera into play if you need it.

Last, is the 2 resource Pact of the Haemonculi signature event card. As a Deploy Action, sacrifice a unit to force the opponent to discard a card from his/her hand and allowing you to draw two cards. Because Khymera tokens count as units this card isn't going to force you sacrifice a superior unit.

These Khymera shenanigans are not your main path to victory. What they will do more often is just give you a few extra units to win battle. Potentially it can give you a decent number of Khymera to overwhelm a battle but that isn't likely to happen very often, as this is more of a support gimmick unless it something that is built upon more later in the game cycle.

 

The game was just released eleven days ago and I am already seeing a lot negative feedback on Kith and the Dark Eldar in general. I guess it just goes with the faction regardless of what game it is. In all honesty i think it's too early for it though. The game just got started and there is bound to be some balance issues with such a limited amount of cards.

In terms of Kith's ability and numbers compared to the other warlords, yes she appears to be the weakest. That however does not make her useless. Maybe the designers should have started with an Archon, Haemonculus or Succubus, but Kith forces you to think when building her deck and during game play. She's the challenge mode of this game. Despite my gripes on the changes to Wyches in the miniatre wargame, challenges such as that and making Kith work is something I enjoy in all games.

Next up I will cover the army unit cards within the Dark Eldar faction.

Adeptus Infernus 006

This week's episode covers Blood Angels rumors, usefulness of Dark Eldar Wyches (or lack thereof), Necrons, Tyranids, Nurgle Blightknights, Adepticon 2015 and Warhammer 40000 Conquest.

Waiting for Conquest



 

I got an email last night telling me that my copy of Warhammer 40000 Conquest is on its way to my doorstep and can't get here fast enough.

 

I've burned out on just every type of card game for years now. Having tried some Sentinels of the Multiverse and the DC Comics Deck Building Game allowed me to break out of that slump a little bit.

 

I was completely unfamiliar with Fantasy Flight's living card game format of games and distribution, but I love the Warhammer 40K setting. I looked for previews and any pre-release reviews and found that I liked what I was seeing. Once the rules were made available I read through them and found the game easy to learn and no lengthy set up.

 

There two things I need to mention on the living card game format I need to comment on. The core starter set comes with Warlords for seven different factions. You get everything you need in order to play with a friend. However, to fully customize your deck, you're going to need another 2-3 copies of the starter box. I see that as both a good and bad thing. Good because you're dripping hundreds upon hundreds of dollars for booster packs or boxes or boosters, but you, you're friends and any other local players are still having to drop another 80 bucks into the game. I'm not sure how that works with the deluxe expansions. the monthly war packs though are a very nice improvement from the typical "booster' pack. With the war packs you get a full play set of cards featured in that month's release. I'm worried that my friends and are going to love this game while not being able to get the extra starter boxes we need.

 



 

In regards to the factions I'm super excited to try out the Dark Eldar and equally eager to see the Necrons when they eventually get released. Lilith Hesperax had better get a Warlord card. I am desperately hoping that the Adepta Sororitas/Sisters of Battle get added as their own faction later. In all honesty I'd be happy just to see them scattered throughout the other Imperium factions as well.

 

 

The first war pack will feature the Space Wolf Ragnar Blackbane. The Space Wolves aren't my cop of tea but I have a friend who's interest in this game may peak due to Ragnar. The second features the Plaguefather for Chaos Space Marines, the third introduces Commander Shadowsun an Ethereal for the Tau and I see that the fourth is an ork.

 

I'm incredibly tempted to hunt down a copy from one of the local hobby shops today after work. Must have willpower.