Tuesday, October 25, 2011

SSSWMB Compromised!

From Mars' Project Blog
We have been having a lot of fun with our Planetary Empires campaign, and if you follow Tallarn over at Still Practicing (Which you should!) you would see that he has been doing quite well. The crux of his success, he has hypothesized, is tied directly to the establishment of his Super Secret Space Wolf Moon Base. As of this weekend, SSSWNB has now been compromised. Jeremy's Imperial Fists have taken over the SSSWMB spaceport, but just barely (Needed a "5" and rolled a "6"). The photo leading into the article was shot on my phone in order to accomplish a timely razzing.

I didn't get a lot of painting done this weekend, which I could have called from a mile away, as I just posted something about painting. We had company and autumnal festivities to attend. Was able to get a couple of quick games (And how...) with said company. And in one day I lost not one, but two games, in the first turn. It was something else. There were a lot of contributing factors like scenario, and Seize the Initiative, etc but both Codex Space Marine lists ate my lunch. It was a real-deal butt whuppin', and an excellent reminder that the Space Marine Codex can still be pretty legit.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Painting Advice

Before we get under way, this post is editorial. If you aren't too terribly interested check back on Tuesday for more painting articles.

I get beat up a lot, by myself more than anyone else, for not having a painted army. Full disclosure, I don't think I can field a painted minimum force org in any army I have. Yet over the last two years I have been painting steady, and completing more models than ever. I have more armies than sense right now, and that is its own editorial. Even still, I have been asked by a couple of people lately how I keep at it? I have fellow gamers, whose skills I respect immensely, saying they are looking for motivation. So I thought I would share some things I do here.

Get your mind right. You "get" to paint, you don't "have" to paint.
There are a lot of reasons why I can't see this hobby as a chore. I do it to unwind, and if it is causing as much stress as my job, well then I will do something else. This hobby is something that the participants are privileged to be part of. Especially now, there are people who can't afford to play, or have no time because they are working a few jobs. "Count your blessings" seems kind of hokey, but there is some merit. Instead of focusing on the things that make it feel like I chore, I remember the things I enjoy, that couldn't come about from any other hobby, then I start slinging paint. Ultimately, it falls to me to make sure the right mind set is there, because otherwise I can pretty much talk myself out of anything.

Be inspired.
I have an entire Pandora play list of music posted on Massive Voodoo. Not only do I like most of their music selections, but hearing the songs reminds me of their blog, and consquently, their work. Art, photos of other minis, even photos of stuff that "feels" like what I am painting, are scattered around my work area. Often times I will paint with my codex open, looking at the unit I am painting or pictures of the army. These visual and tactile props help me slide into a creative mindset where some enjoyable painting can get done. I know I am in the right place when I realize my wife is looking at me funny because I am occasionally making the, what I perceive to be, sound effects of the piece I am painting.

Do it.
Sounds trite. I know. It actually was the advice that lit the fire for me, and ironically enough it was given by someone who only just last weekend finished the first model he has done in a year. It is easy to talk yourself out of painting. It is easier to turn on the TV, X-Box, whatever. Just don't. Find what it takes to not turn on the distractions. Maybe you won't even paint. Maybe you just sit and stare at a wall a few times, but unprogram the need for quick and easy stimulus. I set times. I go an hour a night, 4 nights a week, and then 2 hours on the weekend. This time is for painting, or nothing. No other distraction is allowed in for fear of it taking over the joint. As important as it is to make yourself start, also make yourself stop. Even if you want to keep going, don't. Save it for the next session. Sometimes I can't wait to get to my brushes only because it has been bugging me all day that I am one color, on one guy, away from having the group done.

Thanks for reading,
T

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Alaitoc Camo Update

From Mars' Project Blog
I had mentioned in my earlier post that I felt like the camo was too subtle. My friend Deke agreed, so I revisited it for the remainder of the Storm Guardian squad. I think what I have found is what I am going to keep. I still wanted the camo pattern to be more subtle than a lot of the ones I have seen, but I needed it to be obvious that it was there as well. Obvious camo, ha!
From Mars' Project Blog
The blues are a little brighter, to make the contrast more evident. I think this also makes the model more interesting to look at. So far it is working for me, and I am pretty eager to see it with the spot colors on the miniature. I also got some advice on another way to do the yellow, so I am hoping I have as much success with that as I did the camo. Thanks for reading, T

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Alaitoc Storm Guardians Half Done

From Mars' Project Blog
Truthfully just under half, as I run a warlock with them. But I won't let that rain on my parade. You may also notice I reverting back to this template. I liked the way the dynamic template looked, but I didn't like not have the option to have my banners or a blog roll present. With five of these bad boys under the belt the scheme is coming together...kinda.
From Mars' Project Blog
I really like the way the bone is working out for these guys. It is a very successful spot color against the blue. It is rich enough to add some real interest. I purposely have not shaded as deep as deeply as I normally do to make the pieces really light. The yellow is still vexing. I am still struggling to get it smooth. I want a more buttery look, but a more yellow color.
From Mars' Project Blog
For this next batch, I will be more heavy handed with the camouflage and try to smooth out the yellow a little. We will see how it goes... Thanks for reading, T

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

More Work on Alaitoc

From Mars' Project Blog
In the limited time I have had for painting I have been working on the Storm Guardians. They seem to still be holding my interest, and the paint scheme isn't very demanding, save yellow. The camouflage pattern isn't coming out as distinctly on mine as others who paint the Alaitoc. I think the colors I am using cause it too be more subtle, but I have yet to decide if it is too subtle.
From Mars' Project Blog
The yellow is still kinda kicking my butt as well. I forget how much patience is required to make it look nice with really any yellows, but especially the GW line. I have read a lot of really great tutorials on yellow, and it is just one of those things that requires time, one way or another. Yellow just tends to suck to lay down, but huge pay off when done. Also, winter came to Belsbeth II. This should be the last round of our Planetary Empires campaign. It has been a lot of fun and I am getting very good feedback on it.
From Mars' Project Blog
From Mars' Project Blog
Thanks for reading, T

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Alaitoc Storm Guardian

From Mars' Project Blog
I needed a break from power armor. I have always loved the Guardian models, specifically Storm Guardians. Back when you could run Black Guardians, Storm Guardians were pretty cool. Now they have been kind of clown shoes in a lot of my games. None the less, I dig them, and so I have them, and I thought I would throw some paint down on them. I went for Alaitoc because it is a very painter-friendly color scheme. The yellow and bone spot-colors against that dark blue work well for catching the eye. I also friggin love the Ranger/Pathfinder models, and they are kind of Alaitoc's thing. Lastly, I will probably use this force in an upcoming team tournament army in January, and Alaitoc is the Craftworld that seems to intermingle with the other races the most. Anyway, butterfly that I am, I am sure I will be flitting back and forth between this, AoBR, and whatever the hell else I feel like. Here are some closer pics of the finished "test model". Sadly, my sealing coat left him looking really grainy. That is pretty much the nail in the coffin for GW's Purity Seal for me. I will stick with Testors.
From Mars' Project Blog
From Mars' Project Blog

Monday, October 3, 2011

Terrain for the Shed

From Stuff I Have Painted: Planetary Empires
Yesterday was a little tough, so I needed a victory. First off, my Football Club, Arsenal, choked. That happens pretty early on this side of the Atlantic so there was already a bummer by noon. Then, on top of that, my Football team, the Seahawks, spent the afternoon sucking. It was definitely a day for easy and rewarding painting, a slot well filled by terrain. Also, since I was listening to the Seahawks game on the radio, I wanted to do some painting that required almost no concentration. I tend to be "passionate" about Seahawks football, and think it best to not have small, delicate, or crap I wish I didn't just throw, things in hand at game time.

Special thanks to Magnus at Magnus' Project Log for the grip of barricades he traded me for beer. I got the building from a tournament like four or five years ago so I decided it was probably time to get it painted. The colors came from an Antropologies catalog my wife had. I remember looking at the back drops of the pictures and thinking how cool wherever the hell the models were looked. Unfortunately that catalog was no longer around so I had to go for it from memory.
From Stuff I Have Painted: Planetary Empires
From Stuff I Have Painted: Planetary Empires
From Stuff I Have Painted: Planetary Empires
From Stuff I Have Painted: Planetary Empires
From Stuff I Have Painted: Planetary Empires


Sorry about some of the crap pics. The Shed's lighting isn't exactly awesome. Anyway, I was very happy with the way it all came out. I would love to do more like it, but I really hated assembling those buildings so unless I get some already built...I don't like my odds.

Thanks for reading,
T