Dark Elf Barque Progress and Sorceresses for Every Season

Progress Report WIP Dark Barque and revamp of my Druchii:

Good Progress being made with the Dark Barque. Getting to work on the woodwork.

Somehow I ended up with a surfeit of Sorceresses. 4 on foot, and 4 mounted, in fact. I can field one for every season, or lore of Magic, should I wish

Still busy transforming the Dark Eldar Wyches into (alt Sisters of Slaughter) what now can only be termed 

The Band of Brutality feat Miley Cyrus:

Have resisted adding wheels to my old skool Cauldron. 

Avatars of War sorceress becoming a crone or hag, up front. Apologies for my poor photographic skills. The Hawk Turquoise seems to really reflect the light in the photos, as do the skintone. Does not really do justice to the paint jobs.

The Old Death Hag and her entourage still form the core of my Witches

Also spoiled for choice with the characters. Line-up of masters and Dreadlords. Have consigned one as Tularis (Not in picture) He now resides permanently with the Black Guard (Not shown, Old Tularis model still the Tower Master in this shot) Mix of Old GW and alternative models

Dark Elf and Empire Alternatives

Swap Day Haul: Alternative DE and Empire Models taking shape

I obtained a good number of models at the KWC swap meet a few weeks ago, and have also been looking at what resides in my pile of shame. With the new Druchii Armybook in hand I have set about plotting, planning and building...

The Empire is also ever in my mind, and has not been left behind.

Works in Progress:

Fantastic Little Dragonet. I intend to use him as an alternative Pegasus.

I also had a Giant Owl in my hand, but remembered someone fielding one at NZTC this year, and I do not wish to appear a copycat next year. I think he would make a fine mount in my Dragon Themed Druchii Army.

From the pile of shame came the Matincore:

Languishing there for a almost year, waiting for the new DE Book. Building him with interchangable removable WoC Lord/Mage, for my WoC Army;  and making place for, of course for a DE Dreadlord or Beastlord!

Empire Bits:

What a delightful, agile little  fellow! 

Great little Halberdier wielding Character for my Empire Army. 

Bought from Pukeko Games at the swap meet.

(Another) BSB: This time the Forgeworld Character on Foot.

Leftover from my Christmas Present Demigryff Bonanza (Got 2 by accident)

Mage-type Caster guy. Impulsive buy at the swap meet. Not to sure where he's gonna end up as yet.

Alternative horses for the Empire. Mantic Basilean Mounts (I think)

 I am soooo over the old empire cavalry mounts !

GW had better hurry up and get their act together. The knights are way overdue an overhaul. Mantic and 

Raging heroes (Clicky) are looking very attractive. Also waiting to see what their Dark Elf offering is going to bring. Kickstarter is hopefully coming soon. Have been watching since early this year (Think their teasers came out then)

 

Dark Elf Barque (Or a Barque rather than an Ark)

Evolution of the Dark Elf Barque

The latest Druchii Army book makes a lot about the Maritime connection of the DE's. I find it sad that the Kharybdis is not a sea creature, I think it really should have that rule, seeing as that the original Carybdis is sea monster. Anyhow, I love the pirate aspect of the corsairs.

My workbench is littered with conversions and projects, many obtained at the swap meet. 

Eldar Whyches to Sisters of Slaughter, conversion of several Avatars of war figures (Sorceress into Hag, Dreadlord w sword to Dreadlord with Hand Xbow, several suitable Reaper (and other) figures into my DE Livery. On the left Warmachine Town Guard being recruited for the Empire City of Talabheim... I like their beefier look.

Anyhow, I have been thinking about building a Druchii  boat ever since Nick and I played a Dark Elf attack on an Empire Settlement (clicky to see the post) scenario.

The fluff around the Druchii make a lot of the sea-borne raiding parties. The one thing that stopped me from building a Dark Ark was the size and materials needed (and the time to construct such a vessel) and the poor quality of some attempts I saw on the web.

At the KWC's swap day I came across the answer: James was selling some of his Dark Eldar bits, amongst this some derelict space vessels, and bits that could pass as sails!

I would build, not the not the large Dark ARK that deposits the main raiding force, but a smaller, more agile and easier to conceal vessel, the Druchii BARQUE

So, slowly but surely the Druchii Barque is now evolving...

Sails and rams

Space Hulk

Voila! The beginnings of a Druchii Barque

From Wiki:
"The word barque entered English via French, which in turn came from the Latin barca by way of Occitan, Spanish or Italian. The Latin barca may stem from Celtic "barc" (per Thurneysen) or Greek "baris" (per Diez), a term for an Egyptian boat. The Oxford English Dictionary however considers the latter improbable.

The word barc appears to have come from Celtic languages. The form adopted by English, perhaps from Irish, was bark, while that adopted by Latin as barca very early, which gave rise to the French barge and barque. In Latin, Spanish and Italian the term barca refers to a small boat, not a full-size ship. French influence in England led to the use in English of both words, although their meanings now are not the same.

Well before the 19th century a barge had become interpreted as a small vessel of coastal or inland waters. Somewhat later, a bark became a sailing vessel of a distinctive rig as detailed below. In Britain, by the mid-19th century, the spelling had taken on the French form of barque. Francis Bacon used this form of the word as early as 1605. Throughout the period of sail, the word was used also as a shortening of the barca-longa of the Mediterranean Sea.
The usual convention is that spelling barque refers to a ship and bark to tree hide, to distinguish the homophones.

In the 18th century, the British Royal Navy used the term bark for a nondescript vessel that did not fit any of its usual categories. Thus, when the British Admiralty purchased a collier for use by James Cook in his journey of exploration, she was registered as HM Bark Endeavour to distinguish her from another Endeavour, a sloop already in service at the time. She happened to be a ship-rigged sailing vessel with a plain bluff bow and a full stern with windows.

William Falconer's Dictionary of the Marine defined "bark", as "a general name given to small ships: it is however peculiarly appropriated by seamen to those which carry three masts without a mizen topsail. Our northern mariners, who are trained in the coal-trade, apply this distinction to a broad-sterned ship, which carries no ornamental figure on the stem or prow."

Avatars of War Dreadlord/Noble/Hero who has swopped his one sword for a Corsair Handbow. 

Another WIP on my benchtop.

Thanks for 10 000 Views

Trouble in the Border Provinces clocks 10 000 Views

Whoohoo. Since starting this blog less than a year ago, it has clocked 

over 10 000 views. 

Thanks to the legit visitors and followers, and a raspberry to the blog adcom crawlers and redirectors.

Of late there does not seem to many of these, and most seem of legit origin. So give or take a few 100...

 

GW Rumours and Releases

New kid on the block?
Looks like we are getting a Warmachine/Hordes type of game crossed w WHFB from GW.
If we cant beat 'em...

Let's kill Mordheim and Warmaster, and shelve Dreadfleet, as that really did not work...

Not clear if this is army or individual combat based or a mix:

From Pins of War and Faiet 212

1 - Triumph and Treachery – A Warhammer Expansion for Xmas

White Dwarf Sneak Peak and Pre-orders open now (Retails $165.00):

"Triumph and Treachery is a Warhammer supplement which features rules for playing 3, 4, or even 5 player games of Warhammer. It's a totally new way to play, allowing you and your friends to bribe your enemies, hire mercenaries to bolster your armies and carry out all manner of underhand tactics. Anything goes in the quest to win the war!

This 96-page, full-colour, hardback book includes:

- A history of the underhand tactics employed by devious generals to defeat multiple opponents.
- Full rules for playing multiplayer games of Warhammer.
- 3 new Triumph and Treachery scenarios.
- 3 historical scenarios featuring the background to the battle; an overview of each army; scenario rules; and an order of battle showcasing the miniatures used on each side.
- A showcase of expertly painted Citadel miniatures.

Also included is a deck of 36 beautifully illustrated Treachery cards that allow you to employ all sorts of nefarious bribes and ploys in your games. There are also 5 player turn cards.

As well as this there is a drawstring bag containing victory tokens. These provide a handy method of keeping track of each player's victory points throughout the game (and can also be used for other things, such as bribing an opponent or hiring mercenaries).

All of this is presented in a slipcase to keep the book, cards, and victory tokens together.

You will need a copy of the Warhammer rulebook and relevant army books in order to use the contents of this book."

The cover of the book is a Dwarf fighting a Chaos Warrior in combat, with a Dark Elf Assassin sneaking in behind.

2 – Warhammer Fantasy 9th Edition

More Warhammer Fantasy 9th Edition rumours via Faeit 212.


Warhammer Fantasy 9th Edition & new Starter set in 2014:

Starter set becomes “Expansion set” & Mailorder Only Special Edition

Orks & Goblins first 9th editon Armybook

Starter Set of the 9th Edition Warhammer with following content

Simplified Starter Rulebook
“Armies of Warhammer”, simplified Armylists for all

Orcs and Goblins Army:

(?) New Orc Warboss
New Goblin warriors
New Orc Warriors


Empire Army

Captain of the Empire
New Spearmen (new Design)
New Musketeers (new Design)
New Knights (new Design) - Golly we need these

The Set becomes an Expansion with Magic as subject
Small Booklet with Magic Rules

Additional Models for Mages and two Regiments

#3 – New Warhammer Fantasy Dwarves

According to Ajota from the Spanish Eye of Terror forums, new Dwarves for Warhammer Fantasy arrive in 2014 (before or after the new Edition for Warhammer Fantasy?).

OrcCrusher / TBM
Runic Anvil / War Altar
Squadron Box Gyrocopters
Thunderers Box / Crossbow / Dwarf Warriors (10)
Hammerers Box / Ironbreaker
Slayers Box / Brotherhood of Grimmir
Longbeards Box / Rangers”

Dark Elf Army Book finally in my sweaty paws

My DE Army book has finally arrived. Collected it from The Post Shop at Lunch time.

It is sitting in the car, waiting...

Could have had a hairy cadenza on Friday when I checked the mail, and there was a note from the postie: "Too big to fit in postbox"  Collect it from the Postshop on Tuesday!

You may ask why it took me so long to get a copy. The answer is in a previous post. Admin mayhem and issuing gift certificates in the wrong currency at GW. Anyhow, it has finally arrived.

So Labour Weekend was spent without the DE book.
Continued to modify the Dark Eldar Boat thingy I bought off James at the swap day. Also converting the Dark Eldar Wyches into Sisters of Pain (Slaughter)

Few Hours board gaming with my son and his friends:
 Luc, Logan and Jackson we played  the Aztlan Board game, an entertaining Risk-meets-Catan domination game. Good for a few hours' fun!

 

KWCs 2nd Swap day a resounding success (again)

KWCs 2nd Swap day a resounding success (again)

Just a quick word of thanks to all that participated in the 2nd Kapiti Wargames Swap Day. It was a resounding success, with bargains and swaps for all to be had. Everyone walked away satisfied on the day. A big thanks the everyone involved, visitors and members alike.

Some more of my photos on the KWC blogsite (Click to page)

Personally I found around 30+ brand new and pre-loved fantasy figures, 4 Fenresian wolves, 2 bags of Mantic Basilian Horses, useful tree bits for 20 mm WW2 terrain and bases, lots of paint (Thanks Pukeko games: Vallejo and Reaper) and some bits to make the Dark Elf Raider Ark I have been contemplating at the back of my mind for some time. 

An alternative Demon prince (Do I really need another? ..but the model was soooo cool. And it was a bargain) and small dragon I intend to use as an alternative to the Dark Elf Pegasus.

 I sold the last of my 40K hoard (At last...yay!); some excess German WW2 1/72  tank kits, reference books and codexes, board games, a role playing LOTR game, and a lot of other bits and bobs. A great day of cameraderie and banter, haggling and gamer fun!

Wargames Swap day a big success

The Kapiti Wargames Club's Swap Day 2013 a big success

So what did you bring to the swap day?

Kapiti Wargames Club: Swap Day Photos (Click here)

GW (largish) Niggle sorted - Dark Elves book incoming (to a postbox near me)

GW and global trading: We have a problem Houston

 

As a complication of GWs global pricing policies I ran into an unusual problem. I bought a gift certificate as a present for my son a few months ago. When he wanted to use it online, it turned out that the voucher had been issued in US Dollars (Despite my login details showing NZ) and it was useless in NZ.
I ended up giving him the money in hard cash, and tried to sort out the mess...

The local GW shop would /could not honour the gift certificate, and after 6 months of to-ing and fro-ing we finally got someone in Aus to sort the problem.

6 months later...I was getting rather frustrated with the whole situation, as my bank had also stung me with a $25 foreign exchange rate fee. (On a $100 gift voucher, billed to me as NZ$135 at the time, it brought the cost of a $100 voucher to $160).

I received an email advising me that a new certificate (At today's exchange rate, $120, NZ would be issued) which would put me out of pocket $40 on the nett balance.

I thought just to let it slide, but someone at GW was perceptive enough to what had happened, and that the exchange rate was different at the time of purchase. Today an email with a voucher arrived for $150 NZ.

In the end this leaves me just $10 (plus interest lost) out of pocket,after  six months of trying to get an adequate response from the US/UK or wherever. Should I be glad?

So I bought the Dark Elves Army book, and DE magic cards, and the cards for Lizardmen and WoC. Lets wait and see...probably my last online purchase from GW.

Think I'll just go down to the local GW shop in future or buy off traders on TradeMe rather than go through this again!.

Anyhow, Kudos to the GW employee who saw the exchange rate difference and adjusted the voucher. Have a great weekend mate!

Minis Swap and Sale: KWC 2nd Annual Swap Day Sun 20.10.2013

We want you! 

For the 

Kapiti Wargames Club 

Swap Day

20.10.2013

Unwanted or unloved Miniatures?

The Annual Kapiti Wargames Club Swap Meet is on again!

Sunday 20 October 2013

10.00 to 16.00

Paraparaumu Community Centre

Nga Hina Street, Paraparaumu

Entry Gold Coin Donation at door

Bring all your unwanted bits and models: Warhammer, 40K, Warmachine, FoW, Military, Napoleonics, Ancients, Moderns, 28mm, 20mm, 15mm

 ...any scale, any condition. 

Missing bits, complete or partial kits...all comers welcome! 

Your trash is likely someone's treasure!

Sell or swap!

(Most likely there will be some gaming too)