Mantic looking promising? New Rule Book out soon, free army books

GW Killed WHFB, Mantic Rejoices

Nobody stands to gain more out of GWs decision to  torpedo and sink WHFB than Mantic:

Their unit block based wargame seems the likely contender for most of those who seek an alternative classic style fantasy wargame. Their basic rules are free and read like a more basic form of WHFB. Some names and facts have been changed to protect the innocent. Whilst most of their models don't quite meet up to the standard of GW's, they are probably a little closer to true 28mm than those sold for WHFB by GW. I think they are probably closer to 32mm.

Their designs are quite nice, particularly the undead zombies and ghouls, but the rest look rather scrawny when in the company of GW figures. Then again, so do my older 3rd and 4th Ed GW figures.

Unlike earlier contenders copiers and pretenders to GW's throne, mantic has the advantage of the internet and the current level of rage against the machine that killed WHFB. (Of those previous pretenders I liked Chronopia best)

“Many converts have found themselves won over by a mixture of solid game play, straight-forward but elegant mechanics, and an approach to development that plainly puts the player first.” - Rick Priestly 2015

Anyhow, here is the link to all the free MANTIC STUFF

(and free shipping worldwide if you buy more then $75 (Presumably US)

The 2nd Ed Rulebook is out in August and sells for $40

Mighty Ape is the local stockist.

Rise of my Undead Legion (without Nagash) - WIP

(Nagashless) Stirrings of the Undead

So I have decided that the End Times are not for me. I trust that this is just going to be an expansion, and not the shape on 9th Ed. Still have my reservations, as the direction GW is taking seems to be bigger and more expensive models. 40K has gone this way, and I suspect 9th Ed will do the same.

So, never the less, ranting now long over, back to the (under-powered) Oldhammer VC army I had dusted off on anticipation of the coming of Nagash. Seems like Heinrich Kemmler will have to sustain their animation, or Vlad, or whichever of my gallery of GW and Non-GW Vampires. 

My concept with the VC Army is that of reanimated Talabheim and Khorne WoC troops, sticking to a black and white theme. The idea is to "compliment" my Talabheim/Talabecland Empire Army, reinforcing the concept of the Empire having to face both their fallen comrades and fallen enemy reanimated by unholy forces.

Fair bit of repainting and painting going on, to try and get a more uniform army look. Many of the pictures are really just WIPs as a result.

Harpy Thangs. Alternative Giant/Fell Bats. Lot of work still to do here

.My Giant Bats/Fell Bats have been replaced by these harpy-like creatures I bought off Sam Campbell during a foray into his hobby space at the end of a KWC Management meeting. 

I have never liked the $2 Store look of the GW Bats. The swarms are ok, but I have substituted the Bats w Harpy Things

I picked up a rather nice female necromancer off Trademe, along with Reaper's Monique de Noir. Painting these up as alternative Vamps/necromancers:

Lots more painting to do here too...

Dire Wolves lurch forward

Zombies rise from their graves

Grave guard are pretty much done bar their basing

Have been procrastinating on building this box of Ghouls for some time, but got these going, and same with painting my Vargeists and Vargulf. Finally got going on them. Has fizzled a bit due to my disappointment and sticker-shock (to use Pete's term) when it came to Nagash.

3rd base of Ghouls lusting for the paint-pot. Now numbering 30 or so...

Mounted characters, all Oldhammer, and an unusual Undead Giant Goat that

 I got from goodness knows where!

Characters afoot and winged, from various sources

Black Knights, Black Coach, Skellies, some w bows, 

obviously longing forward to  the Nehekaritic alliance that will not be

Vargheists and ethereals, some serious oldhammer Vamps

Speaking of oldhammer, also sprucing up the old Abyssal Terrors

This one's big enough to double as a  Terrorgheist

Vargulf getting his first licks of paint

More Oldhammer, a Strigoi Vamp, now having lost his Strigoiness, 

as the new Strigoi are modelled on the Crypt Horrors

Herr Kemmler, base coated and contemplating where to go from here

Likewise the Vargheists, complemented w a LOTR figure. Corpse Cart to the left, and more Oldhammer characters in front

All (too) Quiet in the Provinces: Army Parade and Review of Projects

I have been very quiet on the Warhammer front for some time, focusing on reducing my pile of lead and plastic.

The torrent of releases and my general avarice when it comes to models has resulted in quite a large pile accumulating. The quick succession of releases in the last 18 months has left our household reeling, and quite frankly, a bit swamped with Warhammer, and a strategic withdrawal subconsciously took place.

Maybe its also because the Lizardman and Ogre General in our house has discovered "Gurlz, Skateboardz, Music Concerts and Social life !" (No particular order) , and gaming has taken a backseat.

Also HOMEWORK has taken over a lot of his time... taking art, so quite a lot of hard grind needing to go into it. I must say though some amazing artwork coming out of those talented young hands!

Certainly the hobby brushes have not been taken up for a while for some of the inhabitants of our mancave...

And  I too  have been diverted from WHFB into FoW for the last few months,first building and then re-fighting D-Day, and then onto Operation Bagration:

See my other blog Wargames Obsession for detail. I have managed to make quite a dent in the pile of (non-Warhammer) models under the desk

Anyhow there are quite a few unbuilt models from out European haul in January still sitting on the shelf. 40K is history, and Luc's Tau are also still up for sale, anyhow, what's left of them (Unbuilt fire warriors, Kroot, etc)

I have resisted buying the New Dwarfs book, and may well sell off my Dwarven Throng, or can I really get myself to part with what really was my first GW Army ? Haven't played them for ages though...

So I have decided to at least make an effort, and parade my armies, as they currently stand over the next few weeks, and a quick update on unfinished projects:

I came across this useful item, that has Dark Ark written all over it, and also,  in small letters (dare I say it, SAGA...)

 

Out came the spray can, undercoat done. Here comes an item that can only lead to interesting gaming...

So I next reached for the camera and Army closest at hand (and mostly complete, ok, bar a hand full of models) No, not my Dark Elves, but my Daemons of Chaos:

Faction by faction, they poured from the Maelstrom across the Frozen Wastes

Khornish Nasties first:

Leapers of the Flame, pouring forth from:

\

Flaming Hounds

Alternate Karnak

Skulltaker

Juggers

Alternate Herald of Khorne

 (Grand Crane, of the -now defunct- Confrontation brand)

Alternate Skull Cannon, with another alternate Herald of Khorne

The Old Guard

All my Khornish Nasties together

Slaaneshi (Minus Seekers - not fully painted); and another unit of Daemonettes, not worth another pic, again with alternate herald and The Mask, more useful, I think in the pred Ed. rules. 

Tzeench Daemons

 

Papa Nurgle and his Garden of Delights

Herald and BSB (Pardon my poor photographic skills - still workin' on it)

Alternate Herald (Bit of a theme developing here? )

Filth Dogs

Epidemius and his offspring

Rotflies