'Ere We Go!

Life continues to be stupidly busy. I finished the Genestealer Cult Kill Team I previewed in my last post, but haven't had the time to take pics of them. I did manage to paint something new this week though...

The Orks have always been my favorite Warhammer 40k army. In the grimdark of the 40k universe, where everything is horrible for most sentient races, the orks cheerfully blast through the endless battlefields having the time of their lives. I've collected them since the days of Rogue Trader. It's weird there are only three posts on this blog about them.

The new codex for 8th edition orks just dropped today, though the 'net has been full of leaks and images so there isn't much that remained a surprise. Forums seemed to have mixed feelings on the book, with competitive players unhappy about this point value or that ability. I always find that terribly amusing, but then I'm not a tournament player. My armies are always composed of the models I wanted to paint rather than the best synergies and I prefer narrative games to competitive ones.

I love the new codex and the new models that were released (although I DID wish for a new Ork Weirdboy model... maybe one of these days). I haven't purchased the new Ork racing game, Speed Freeks, but I did buy one of the models from that game on eBay... the Shokkjump Dragsta!

The Shokkjump Dragsta, a racer that uses shokk-attack technology to project itself ahead of the competition. The thing basically has a chance to pull a Back to the Future 88-mph teleport... emphasis on chance, because it doesn't always work and the attempt could leave you in a bad spot on the battlefield, which seems like a very orky predicament. I picture the thing barreling toward a fortress wall, intending to jump inside, failing to activate the tech, and plowing into the wall (much to the wonderment of the defenders) while screaming Waaagh! all the way. Rule-wise, it always has grot gunners and a targeting squig, making it among the most accurate shooting model orks can have. Yes, please, I'll take two...

Anyway, I am in the middle of rehabbing some of my old models, rebasing the infantry (not mandatory, but the new GW models are on 32mm bases rather than 25mm and I like the way they look), and adding to the horde. I'll post pics as I get the chance.

Shadow War: Armageddon

Shadow War: Armageddon is the revival of the Necromunda rules by Games Workshop and it has my group gearing up to play a campaign. The rules are nearly identical to the game from the 90's with the main difference being that rather than desperate gangs of underhive scum, your force can be drawn from elements of any 40k army (though I think you could happily build any of the old gangs with the Astra Militarium list and use the old skill trees for advancement).

This is Fingob's Ladz, my Ork Kill Team. Fingob is the brute with the Power Klaw (overkill for a starting gang, but it's what my model has - if I run Orks for the campaign, I'll paint up a new Fingob with a Kombi-flamer). His right hand ork, Fester, is a kunning Spanner Boy and carries a Big Shoota. The rest of the mob consists of four Boyz (Hef, Cloutgob, Mangeye, and Naffbitz) and three Yoofs (Pulg, Wort, and Snik). I have zero idea of how effective this gang will be, but I just love playing Orks!

I can make five or six Kill Teams just by pulling minis form my cabinets, but I plan on custom designing another Ork mob (Bloodaxe Kommandos) and a Inquisition Pacification Force.

I'm still working on some proper underhive terrain, but my urban sprawl should do nicely for now...

We've going to get in some games tonight. I'll have some notes on what happened in a few days, but these are just for fun and to get to grips with the rules so there won't be any real record keeping yet.

Grimteef da Widowmaker

With all of the info coming out about the next edition of Warhammer 40k, I've grown pretty optimistic about the direction of the game. It sounds like they've taken some of the most successful bits of AoS, combined them 40k, and even pulled out some elements of Rogue Trader (vehicles have Armour Saves and Wounds like everything else). The core rule set will be free and consists of 14 pages. Most of Universal Special Rules will be replaced by unit specific rules that will be included on the unit Data Slate. I don't know exactly how it will turn out in the full reveal, but I am encouraged with the info so far.

In any case, I was inspired to paint up the first 40k model I've worked on in several years (my last blog post with new minis was 2014, but I'm not sure if it's actually been that long).

Grimteef da Widowmaker has been the leader of my beloved Ork horde since 3rd edition. I decided it was time to update this monster and furthermore I decided I wanted something more unique than the models GW currently has available. I love the new Orruk models AoS and yesterday I dropped by my local GW shop to pick up the Ironjawz Megaboss. I scrounged through the pile of other Ork kits I had on hand to come up with more Dakka and here is the terrifying result!

This lad is HUGE. There was a bit of cutting and filing needed as the newer kits tend to have strange joins (rather than simple flat shoulder joints to add arms, etc), but I didn't need to resort of greenstuff. The right hand proved the most troubling and I had to trim away quit a bit of the original gauntlet to make the fit, but I was able to cover an unsightly job with a spiky bit of armour. All of the Orky glyphs are decals, but the checkerboard racing stripes were painted freehand. As a bonus, the entire project, from purchase to photography was accomplished in under 24 hours!

Somehow, I don't seem to have any photos of my Ork army that aren't more than ten years old and I'll have to remedy that in the future, but I'll include Grimteef wading through his minions. I'm anxious to see the new point values, but my army currently sits at something around over 7000 points! I probably have another 2000 points tucked away in cupboards still in their original shrink wrap (Yesterday, I found three boxes of Meganobz and a Morkanaught I didn't even know I had).

Anyway, I'm looking forward to trying the new game and leading the Waaaagh across the galaxy!

40k Friday

Waaaaagh! The orks of the 40k universe are one of my all time favorite things about the setting. It's just fun to watch your opponent during the set-up phase as he realizes he is outnumbered three to one...

I think have nearly 3000 points of orks including a lot of models I've never photographed. I think the mob pictured above was 1250-points. I am going to have to get around to trying to get a picture of the whole horde. That captured tank is now cute beside some of the other vehicles I've added...