Unleashing the Dogs of War...

I know there's a few 40Kers on the forums, and I was wondering what wargames, strategy games, collectible miniature games, etc. that people play.

For my part, I was pretty big into 40K for a while (Imperial Guard 4 Life, suckahs! ), and I also played Mongoose Publishing's Babylon 5 miniatures game pretty heavily (still own the books and a couple of fleets, unfortunately Mongoose stopped manufacturing minatures for monetary concerns )

My favorite wargame for the past couple of years has been Privateer Press' Warmachine (and Hordes, it's fully-compatible sister game); the setting of the Iron Kingdoms is just fantastic, and they have done an awesome job developing the characters and storylines. Plus, steampunk mecha, undead pirates, hardened Cold War Russian-ish people, an army of religious zealots who lack guns... but just love setting things on fire in unique and creative ways... this game has pretty much something for everyone.

And that's not even going into some of the things in Hordes; people who hate the stereotypical fantasy dragon will probably love the Dragons in the Iron Kingdoms. They're less flying lizards, and more manifest Cosmic Horrors who twist and blight living things and the world around them with their very presence.

Lord Toruk, the First Dragon, the Dragonfather, etc. is the ruler of the nation of Cryx (the island of previously mentioned Undead Pirates as well as Undead Mecha and Undead Cyborgs, aka Iron Liches.) is about the size of Godzilla (maybe a bit bigger), and a single drop of his blood is enough to turn you into an unspeakable horror. He also split of his essence to create all the other dragons, thinking that he and his offspring would take over the world; unfortunately, he didn't take into account that they would be as evil and selfish as he is, so now one of his goals is to hunt them all down and eat them, so that he can take the power he used to create them back.

I seriously love this game; for those who want to check out some of the models and information, here are Privateer Press' pages for Warmachine and Hordes.

I'm also very much looking forward to the Daikaiju-based CMG they're putting out this year, called Monsterpocalypse. They just released the rulebook for the game in .pdf form, and I have to say, it is sounding even more awesome than it did originally.

So, what's your game?

Oh, and just so people don't think I'm exaggerating about the Dragons of the Iron Kingdoms, this...

... is the sort of thing that tends to happen to you when you get "Dragonblighted", if you're unlucky. Of course, these guys (Frost Elves called the Nyss) have been so warped by Everblight (the Dragon that conquered them) that they actually believe incubating a horrible beast that will burst out of their body and feast on their enemies is a blessing. No joke.

The lucky ones just become soulless abominations which may or may not be pretty freaking hot, like Lylyth

and her Epic version

the Acolyths

the Sheperd

the Twins, Saeryn

and Rhyas

the Cryx Triplets, the Witch Coven of Garlgast

the horny amazon pirates, the Satyxis Raiders

and their Sea Witch

Skarre Ravenmane, Satyxis Pirate Queen

and Epic Skarre, Queen of the Broken Coast

War Witch Denegrha

who recently died and went Epic instead of to Hell

and Master Necrotech Mortenebra who really isn't so much hot as incredibly freaky and creepy

I play a lot of the Command and Conquer series of games, Dungeons and Dragons, StarCraft, the Advance Wars series, and the Real War series.

MegaDan5 wrote:

I play a lot of the Command and Conquer series of games, Dungeons and Dragons, StarCraft, the Advance Wars series, and the Real War series.

Er... cool, but I meant miniature games, not computer strategy games. ^^;

I play D&D using miniatures.

6-7K Points of WHFB Orcs [With a few nice conversions], likely not going to stop until the 400+ Model Point and / or 10K Points.

Similarly, I have roughly 2K Points in WHFB Clan Eshin. I was thinking of playing DoW, but considering the lack of support for four years...

In 40K I'm working on my Astartes [About 3K points, plan on getting a full Company], Chaos [Which is on hold], and Orks [Speed Freaks, about 3K when done outside Apoc and a few Stompas to add for it].

For Necromunda I really wanted to convert a House Glaw gang, but I couldn't get either the models or the money for it. Doesn't help with the mucking up of Mail Order GW made. Still, the specialists [Mordheim, BFG, Necromunda, etc] are better than the regular games now in some instances.

Also, I own a 2nd Ed. D&D Handbook and Monstrous Manual. Haven't gotten to play it, though.

Malahite wrote:

6-7K Points of WHFB Orcs [With a few nice conversions], likely not going to stop until the 400+ Model Point and / or 10K Points.

Similarly, I have roughly 2K Points in WHFB Clan Eshin. I was thinking of playing DoW, but considering the lack of support for four years...

Cool. I've always wanted to get into WHFB, and thought about starting up a Bretonnian or Empire army. Unfortunately, I really don't have the money to get into another huge miniatures game right now.

EDIT: That, and I also don't have the time to paint another huge miniatures army at the moment, or in the foreseeable future.

GW games are pretty costly to get into. You can get started and actually play games in Warmachine or Hordes for about 40-50 bucks, rather than the couple hundred it takes to really get a decent WH/WHFB army going.

Malahite wrote:

In 40K I'm working on my Astartes [About 3K points, plan on getting a full Company], Chaos [Which is on hold], and Orks [Speed Freaks, about 3K when done outside Apoc and a few Stompas to add for it].

40K-wise, I have about 3000 points of Cadians (with some Catachans), about 1800 points worth of Necrons, and maybe somewhere between 300-500 points of Eldar (new Eldar, not the older models) and Tau. Never really got the Eldar or Tau armies off the ground.

Malahite wrote:

For Necromunda I really wanted to convert a House Glaw gang, but I couldn't get either the models or the money for it. Doesn't help with the mucking up of Mail Order GW made. Still, the specialists [Mordheim, BFG, Necromunda, etc] are better than the regular games now in some instances.

Never got into any of the GW specialty games, although the Inquisitor(?) and Battlefleet Gothic stuff seemed pretty cool.

Malahite wrote:

Also, I own a 2nd Ed. D&D Handbook and Monstrous Manual. Haven't gotten to play it, though.

I've probably played way more D&D than can possibly be healthy for a person. 2nd Ed. was my favorite version, but I'm really warming up to 4th. I was pretty unsure about them revamping everything and basing it off MMORPGs, but it really seems to work out pretty well. Still need to get some more playtime in before I make up my mind on it, though.

I've got the 4th Ed. DM guide, Player's Handbook, and Monster Manual.

I used to play wh40k actively a couple of years back. ^^; But I dunno... Time, money and age probably caught up with me and the chances to play grew thinner and thinner. ( Not saying that there's a limit of how old you can be and play. I've played against a couple of 50+ old men in my days. :3 And they were all pretty cool. )
I still find it pretty exciting to play, but... Playing the game was never my strong side. x3 I had more fun painting and converting my models.

Garnet wrote:

I used to play wh40k actively a couple of years back. ^^; But I dunno... Time, money and age probably caught up with me and the chances to play grew thinner and thinner. ( Not saying that there's a limit of how old you can be and play. I've played against a couple of 50+ old men in my days. :3 And they were all pretty cool. )

Some of the best games I've had were against older players of 40k and other mini games. In fact, I try to avoid playing kids and teenagers if I can help it, although some of the 20-25 year old guys can be just as bad.

Garnet wrote:

I still find it pretty exciting to play, but... Playing the game was never my strong side. x3 I had more fun painting and converting my models.

Hehe. I like having an army painted up and all lined up just to look at. As far as playing the game goes, I guess I'm a decent player, but I probably lose more matches than I win. Multitasking isn't one of my strong points, and a lot of my friends are just better at strategy games of all sorts. Don't mind losing as long as it was a fun game, though.

On a side note, I can't help cracking up at seeing your avatar and reading about you talking about 40K. Garnet's grin and 40K just bring together some hilarious mental images. Like, for instance...

Garnet: "Heavy Bolters for the !^%#@&* WIN!!!!" x3
Erica: "Mhh... my Eldar... !&)# you, !*#&@^@!" XD
Violet: "*sigh*"

I'll try taking some digital photos later (This was with a crummy Laptop one), but right now here's my front [And so far only] completed rank of Black Orcs.

I have a few nifty conversions, but I have very few models painted because I want to paint my best. Said problem with best is it takes forever, and I have [Adding up all my armies] well over 300 models that need to be painted. When even speed painting 'the best' takes about 20-30 minutes for five models, and I still have characters to paint...

Yeah, 20-30 hours of work does not sit well for me. Let alone the things that take longer [Such as my CSM's, who can take almost that long each model]. Though this does make me feel proud of the models I do get done.

Malahite wrote:

I'll try taking some digital photos later (This was with a crummy Laptop one), but right now here's my front [And so far only] completed rank of Black Orcs.

They look pretty good, even though the picture is blurry. I like the deep red on the armor (Scab Red, or does it actually look more like a blood red tone in person?), gives them a kind of played down, menacing appearance. One of the worst things I saw someone bring to the table was a 40K Ork army done up in purple and BRIGHT yellow. We're talking, migraine-inducing if you look at them for too long.

Malahite wrote:

I have a few nifty conversions, but I have very few models painted because I want to paint my best. Said problem with best is it takes forever, and I have [Adding up all my armies] well over 300 models that need to be painted. When even speed painting 'the best' takes about 20-30 minutes for five models, and I still have characters to paint...

Yeah, 20-30 hours of work does not sit well for me. Let alone the things that take longer [Such as my CSM's, who can take almost that long each model]. Though this does make me feel proud of the models I do get done.

That's one of the main reasons I can't see myself getting involved in a game right now; even if I had the spare cash to drop on an army, they would just be sitting around in boxes on my closet shelf for months. Just can't devote that much time to painting, when there so many other things that need to get done.

My Necrons have been bare plastic for about... five or six months now? I intend to get around to them someday, just... not anytime soon.

TheQuantumMechanic wrote:

They look pretty good, even though the picture is blurry. I like the deep red on the armor (Scab Red, or does it actually look more like a blood red tone in person?), gives them a kind of played down, menacing appearance.

Mechrite Red undercoat, Scab Red with Red Gore overtop. The highlighted edges are Blood Red.

Quote :

One of the worst things I saw someone bring to the table was a 40K Ork army done up in purple and BRIGHT yellow. We're talking, migraine-inducing if you look at them for too long.

Agreed, only Imperial Fists have looked good to me in Bright Yellow Armor.

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That's one of the main reasons I can't see myself getting involved in a game right now; even if I had the spare cash to drop on an army, they would just be sitting around in boxes on my closet shelf for months. Just can't devote that much time to painting, when there so many other things that need to get done.

There are some armies that get around this, and with specialist games you only need a few models so you can add both character and a nice paint job. Ogres and 'Nidzilla armies are the main ones I can think of that are few models and leave room for character. GK and Necron armies can be small, but they just leave so little room for customization.

Quote :

My Necrons have been bare plastic for about... five or six months now? I intend to get around to them someday, just... not anytime soon.

Which models?

Oh, and as a miscellaneous piece of info: At my GW we once found a Blister containing both a Melta Guardsman and a Flayed One.

Malahite wrote:

Mechrite Red undercoat, Scab Red with Red Gore overtop. The highlighted edges are Blood Red.

Nice color combination, it probably looks pretty striking in person.

Malahite wrote:

Agreed, only Imperial Fists have looked good to me in Bright Yellow Armor.

I'm not particularly fond of the color yellow at all, particularly bright shades, but I admit, the Fists manage to pull it off.

Malahite wrote:

There are some armies that get around this, and with specialist games you only need a few models so you can add both character and a nice paint job. Ogres and 'Nidzilla armies are the main ones I can think of that are few models and leave room for character. GK and Necron armies can be small, but they just leave so little room for customization.

Yeah, Necrons being able to field a small force is one of the reasons I went with them. Unfortunately, that bit about little room for customization is completely true. Just about the only customization possible is trying to come up with a visual look that isn't that common; and to be honest, pretty much everybody goes for that anyways, so...

I thought about working in battle damage on all the Necrons, but... my army isn't that small, it would still take forever.

I would like to try a 'Nidzilla army, just for character.

Malahite wrote:

Which models?

Two Necron Lords (one on a Destroyer Body), one Tomb Spyder (which is really just for parts to customize the Destroyer Lord with; the legs and particle accelerator, mainly), 60 Necron Warriors, 6 Destroyers, 4 Heavy Destroyers, 3 Wraiths, 5 Pariahs, 5 Immortals, and a whole bunch of Scarabs (most of which were pretty much just going on the bases of the other Necrons to add scenery).

Malahite wrote:

Oh, and as a miscellaneous piece of info: At my GW we once found a Blister containing both a Melta Guardsman and a Flayed One.

That Guardsman is pretty effin' hardcore. I wonder how often that happens? Haven't really encountered anything like that myself (we don't have a GW store here, just a bunch of local comic and game shops).

TheQuantumMechanic wrote:

I'm not particularly fond of the color yellow at all, particularly bright shades, but I admit, the Fists manage to pull it off.

Since they're the only one, I think it's safe to assume it's more because of their armor than paint scheme?

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Yeah, Necrons being able to field a small force is one of the reasons I went with them. Unfortunately, that bit about little room for customization is completely true. Just about the only customization possible is trying to come up with a visual look that isn't that common; and to be honest, pretty much everybody goes for that anyways, so...

I thought about working in battle damage on all the Necrons, but... my army isn't that small, it would still take forever.

There's that, and a few old WD issues [Back when it was more than "BUY THIS THIS IS AWESOME!"] that featured converted Necrons. They had no special rules [were just made for character], but included: Wraith Lower Bodies, Shoulder-Mounted Gauss Flayers, and Battle Damaged Necrons. There is an old article on the GW sites I think featuring how to model battle damage.

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I would like to try a 'Nidzilla army, just for character.

And because there's nothing quite like bum-rushing a firing line with 6 Carnifexes...

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Two Necron Lords (one on a Destroyer Body), one Tomb Spyder (which is really just for parts to customize the Destroyer Lord with; the legs and particle accelerator, mainly), 60 Necron Warriors, 6 Destroyers, 4 Heavy Destroyers, 3 Wraiths, 5 Pariahs, 5 Immortals, and a whole bunch of Scarabs (most of which were pretty much just going on the bases of the other Necrons to add scenery).

Nice foundation. The Pariah's will work better now that they can run, and the Scarabs used for things other than scenery will be very nice tie-down units.

Quote :

That Guardsman is pretty effin' hardcore. I wonder how often that happens? Haven't really encountered anything like that myself (we don't have a GW store here, just a bunch of local comic and game shops).

Occasional mishap with production, I assume. Sorry about your lack of a GW, they tend to have a better selection.

Well, back in high school I used to play a little game called Mage Knight. It was done by the same company that did the HeroClix and it's spinoffs. I customized a few of my minitures from other pieces that I didn't use, and repainted some of the others. For example, I modified a Death Merchant, removing the sword he carried and replaced with a double-Axe. The company's since stopped making them, but I still keep a few around. Like back in the states I had one that actually glowed in the dark sitting on my desk. Ironically, it was a fariy.