Midnight Release Party 40K Style

It is too early in the morning on a Saturday here, but work calls and it is my own fault. I enjoyed the midnight release party at Bud's Place last night. Was an awesome time. I'm a veteran of many a midnight release party for video games, movies and even some RPG's. This was my first 40K party though and wow I was impressed.

Almost all of the players I have come to enjoy playing with and being around (everyone except 2 players) were there, from my favorite matchups, to friends I've brought into the community, to my mentor who brought me into the community all at the same place at the same time. Was social overkill that was second to none.

It was a blast and very cool to be aorund other players as excited about 6th edition as myself. Now to get myself to work and start reading up on 6th. Sunday is our local Game Day to start discovering the cool things of 6th. Can't wait!

A Newb's Look At 6th Edition - 1st Impressions Part One

6th Edition is about here. Pre-orders started today and this time next week, out with 5th in with the 6th. Personally it will be mid to late July before I pick up my copy due to budget concerns, however I did pick up July's issue of White Dwarf and have been scouring it for as much intel as I can get.

So, some things we know for sure now (ok, some of this was in the rumors, but again these are known now, not rumors):

- You will be able to purchase terrain for your game. I find this interesting, especially for turtle-players who hide in the corner and just shoot everything across the board. Suddenly now you can get barricades, an aegis line, the huge building with AA guns. Seems like a godsend for some players (or perhaps emperor-sent).

- Allies. I am EXCITED about Allies! Some senior players have been trying to inform me that it sucks. Perhaps it does, but for now I LIKE it. Since what little I have and play is more theme and fluff based than competitive, the idea of 2 armies working together really appeals to me. It also gives me the great excuse ofr building up a couple of different armies at the same time. I say this is a win-win situation. Perhaps I will regret it down the road, but for now this ROCKS!

- Fliers. I'm already figuring out ways I can include Storm Talons with Grey Knights (Space Marne Allies) and Ork Bombers with perhaps Dark Eldar (they Dark Eldar needs slaves right?).

- Hull Points. I'm not sure but it seems to me this just may have made vehicles tougher... This is a good thing right? :D

- New cool toys to play with. The Servo Skull tape measure, the munitorium dice and battlefield objective markers. Wewt! Yes, I admit it, I'm a sucker for marketing and these things are just awesome.

- Narrative Play. YES! Call me corny, nerdy, geeky, whatever - I LIKE narrative gaming and from the example battlefield report in White Dwarf, I'm impressed with how GW has seemed to connect with this type of player niche that I know goes on inside all the player's minds, but putting it forth on the table sometimes is left wanting. This to me is a huge step and between this and Allies, might end up keeping me out of competitive play for a while longer. We shall see though, as I am seriously considering the Redstone Rumble in Sept.

So when I finally do get around to picking up 6th in July I am hoping to score a Gamer's Edition with satchel and dice. Would be awe-some.

Anyway enough babbling for now. As the rules hit next week and I get my own ruleset in a couple additional weeks I'll chime in again. For now, all I can say is I'm really excited about what I am seeing.

Last but not least a shout out to Alex and his buddies who stopped in to see me at work tonight and talk 40K shop for a few minutes. Was fun and appreciated. Looking forward to sitting down and playing some 40K with ya'll.

Works in Progress: Prussian Empire, Dystopian Wars

Worked on my Prussian Empire stuff a little this afternoon. Added a layer of Ironbreaker to all of the models and started the flag colors on the smokestacks and wings of aircraft (Black, White, Red eventually).

I'm really digging the detail on these models and they are a nice break (did I need one?) from the Grey Knights and 40K models.

The Frigates.

The wings on the bombers will carry the flag colors as well going towards the tip as Black, White and Red.

Detail shot of 1 of my tiny flier squadrons.

A Great Hobby Weekend

This last week and weekend were good for me hobby-wise. I did my first transfer (the #2 on the Razorback above).

I also did my first Imerial Skull and Wings paint-job. I really like the depth and detail I got though I still have some fine-tuning to do with the skull. The one below will be added to the same Razorback, I just haven't determined where yet.

Below is one of my new hobby toys. I got the stand-alone 2.5x/4x spot at WalMart for the amazing low price of only $15. I also picked up a double-sided cutting mat as well at our local art store for $8 and a couple of micro-pens which I haven't used yet but will use for Scroll work.

Last but definately not least I picked up my first Dystopian Wars fleet. Got a great deal thanks to another DW player in the area and picked up the rulebook as well. I got the Prussian Empire Naval Battle Fleet and the Prussian Air Fortress.

All the models except the Air Fortress have been primed black, then based Ledbelcher and washed with Nuin Oil. Loving the depth and detail these models have and looking forward to my first matchup which will probably be a week or two away. At the rate I'm going painting these things (I just got them Saturday morning) they should be fully painted by then.

I'm sure I'll have more Works-in-Progress reports later this week on both my grey Knights Army and my Prussian Empire Fleet. Stay tuned!