Blogs on blog: Oldhammer blog links.

Just a quick post to point out I have updated the blog list over on the right. It should now have a link to every Oldhammer blog that I know about and a couple of extra sites to boot. I've been a little picky with what goes on the side there, after all no point linking to a blog with no Oldhammer content whatsoever. If a blog has been updated in at least the last couple of months and it contains a good amount of good content that is Oldhammer or related to Oldhammer it gets on the list of links. New blogs are accepted but to prevent putting up links that go dead in  a few weeks I'll wait until there are several good posts before adding them on.

Now I don't doubt I've missed some very fine blogs off so if you think you fit the above criteria and would like a link on this blog to your blog give me a kick or add a comment bellow.

Erny

On the table: Erny's round up of the months best Oldhammer gaming.

Fellow Oldhammerers, you ask one simple question about letting a sleeping blog die and the next thing you know you are agreeing to write a weekly roundup of Oldhammer gaming.  Actually I’m really pleased to be in this position, loads of support from very enthusiastic Oldhammerers determined to keep this beast not just going but growing. Not to mention the fact that there is so much Oldhammer goodness out there how does one keep on track with it all? You follow this round up is how. Orlygg has already started the round up ball rolling with his summary of the best modelling and painting put out this week, no mean feat given the range and number of articles. Gaming posts are less common so I’m taking a different tack,  some posts I’ll round up the best gaming of the past several weeks and then for others point you all in the direction of some of my favorite posts ever on a given theme.  One sure fire way to get some publicity on this popular blog is to write a decent gaming article and post it up, challenge set!

On with the round up:

First up we have a pair of 40K 2^nd ed battle reports from early last month.

Death World Adventures from Jonas brings us a chaotic drunken battle over a shanty town, if you don’t like cocktail stick cacti look away now. Special rules designed for the scenario add a new twist to a much loved game and the results are a stunning table and fun narrative.  I particularly like the use of incomplete in character reports from the action, nostalgic or what. Jonas also describes the setup and with captions and a brief summary then allows the pictures to do a lot of the talking, even if the pictures are in places a little blurry but who cares.

Next up Suber on his Old School Workshop shows us what happens when you grab the first minis off your shelf, think about a scenario for a few minutes and throw the lot on the table. Loads of Chaos, great terrain and miniatures again and once more special scenario rules, including an adaption to a terrible accident.  Though there is a bit of narrative Suber reports this through the eyes of the gamer, an interesting and fun take. Included are lots of great photos of a really fun game.

In the world of Fantasy Rab brings us a couple of reports on Rabs Geekly Digest detailing the exploits of his Tzeentch war band. Be prepared, there are no shots of the game in progress however we do get a great narrative written from the point of view of the Tzeentchians.  Rab  also details the ups and downs of this reasonably powerful starting warband in a turn by turn summary of the mechanics of the game. It is a format that works really well for these smaller skirmish games and fills your head with images of the brutal combat played out on both the gaming table and the chaos wastes.

 Speaking (or is that writing) about narrative I'm going to include fun, well written prose that adds to the game in these reports. To see what I mean please do check out the writings of one Mouse over at Tales From the Big Board.

I’ve always considered WHFRP as part of the Oldhammer experience, it was always part and parcel of my gaming as a youth anyway. It doesn’t come more iconic than The Enemy Within campaign and I know many people are already following Rob S and his group through this campaign by gaming session podcast. If your not why not? Get yourself over to Six Iron Spikes for the latest installment.

Where would we be without scenarios? Same old same old I guess, line them up, knock them down. Right from the start of the Oldhammer community a running theme on the blogs was the need for scenarios and the blogging of our own ideas.  For my final recommendations  this post we have a couple of scenarios by some of the instigators of our little niche community.

Gaj/Weasil  at Warhammer for Adults has a nice little scenario on his blog, featuring his own mascot character Gromeo, (we all know you are Gromeo Gaj), in a compromising situation it is full of the humour we expect from the twice named one.

Finally Thantsants brings us a scenario that has been in his back pocket for over a year, ever since I started talking about an Oldhammer fanzine but failed to act. Anyway the Hollywood epic is on this very blog so again, what are you waiting for..

If you have any posts from the past month, by yourself or others that you think I've missed or you have an article in the pipe line do let me know.

Erny

A Malign Rise: Antiquis Malleum greens by Tim Prow!

From left to right: Gregor Sinblister, Matthias Witherheart and Oskar the Writhing

Mick Leach, from Eastern Front Studios, has released some more greens for the forthcoming Antiquis Malleum Kickstarter. And here they are! Hopefully, this will encourage Drew Williams to finish the three he is working on. Some of you may have seen the WIP Drew did on Snaplimb Lusthowl earlier on last week, so expectation is high on what else he pulls out of the bag sculpting wise. 

Gregor Sinblister up close and personal

Oskar the Writhing. Feel the tentacles! 

A scale shot, as many of you have asked for, of the new miniatures compared to some old school models.

As always, feel free to share your opinions here, they really do make a difference you know!

Orlygg

Indio Anjones and the Barrow of Doom

Many a tall tale had been told of the mighty Hammer of MacGuffin and its very existence was widely held to be the stuff of legend. If the stories were to be believed it had the power to unite fractious kingdoms, sunder enemy alliances and open the gateway to power for those who possessed it. In short it harked back to a golden age.

 And now it was almost his. Indio Anjones, notable Tilean treasure hunter and all round scoundrel, leaned back in his saddle and smiled. Not even the low sinister hump of the ancient barrow it rested in could quell his high spirits. Just as long as there were no snakes in there...

Suddenly the Tilean adventurer’s reverie was interrupted by the warning calls of his outriders - another band had been spotted approaching the burial ground. Someone else was after his prize...

Welcome!

This scenario is intended to be many things. Perhaps you are new to the wonders of Oldhammer having fought your way clear of the barren wastelands of tournament style play and beardy rules lawyers. You may yearn for the freedom and creativity of narrative style wargaming. You may be sick of winning for winning’s sake. You may already be an old Oldhammerer  and be just after a quick idea for a scenario to supplement your own. If so you may already be familiar with the Battle report, The Battle for Grimdal’s Tomb, from issue 153 of White Dwarf, which this scenario pays homage to. Whatever you seek we hope you find it in this scenario and the many more to come.

Oh and if you don’t have a Tilean adventurer to lead your forces then feel more than free to replace him with a pistol wielding Troll slayer, Pole-axe wielding Lizardman Mage or whatever  else you may have in your collection!

Outline

 

A legendary magic weapon has been tracked down to its resting place in the burial mound of old King MacGuffin. Two bands of treasure hunters have arrived at the same time - both intent on gaining their long sought after prize. Who knows what powers the hammer will confer on its finder, or what horrors may lurk in the barrow...
 

Terrain
 

Apart from some kind of ruins or burial mound placed centrally, use whatever terrain you have available. Some kind of open space around the burial mound should keep things interesting, with woods, hills and broken ground to provide some cover on the approach.



Suggested plan for the Barrow interior - note the Troll's lair excavated in the side of one of the alcoves.



Forces

Included in this scenario are army lists taken from the Warhammer Armies book. However, you can, in the spirit of Oldhammer, field whatever troops you like or have in your collection.Similarly stats provided are intended for play with Warhammer Fantasy Battle 3rd edition - feel free to play with any edition that suits your fancy.

If you are considering using your own armies perhaps you should consider races who would actually have an interest or possible knowledge of the artefact to make for a more satisfying narrative element - like Old Worlder treasure hunting types like Indio Anjones and his mercenaries. That’s not to say you couldn’t have something like an Ogre warband or Orc raiding force that got lucky - just invent a backstory that explains why they are there.

Indio Anjones’ Soldiers of Fortune

(WFB Armies 3rd edition)

Indio Anjones - Level 20 Tilean hero
Anjones is a renowned, if somewhat slightly infamous treasure hunter. Easily recognisable by his outlandish dress sense, tall hat and leather bull whip, he certainly cuts a dashing figure.

 

Heavy armour, sword and whip

Warhorse with barding

Special rule - Anjones suffers from a Fear of snakes.
Anjones uses his whip much like a net as described in the  3rd edition rulebook
The whip is useful for warding off enemy attacks. Anjones' saving throw is increased by one point as though he were using a shield .
Anjones can use his whip to partially entangle and distract his opponent. Anyone attacking him must subtract -1 from their "to hit" rolls.

 

 

 

  

5 Border Horsemen

Light armour, shields, spears and hand weapons

led by Level 5 champion

10 Tilean Crossbowmen

Light armour, hand weapons and crossbows

Led by a Level 5 champion

20 Estalian Hombres Villanos

Light armour, shields and swords

Led by Level 5 champion

 

 

Rennaez Bellok’s Antiquarian Treasure Hunters

(WFB Armies 3rd edition)

Rennaez Bellok - Level 15 Dwarf hero

Driven by greed and an almost pathological hatred for his arch enemy, Anjones, Bellok is a dastardly villain of a Dwarf. His Bretonnian heritage only serves to add further venom to his rivalry with the hated Tilean.

Heavy armour, shield and 2 handed sword (parasitic blade)
Special Rule -
Bellok hates Indio Anjones.
 

 




 

 

 

 

 

 

Arneld Ernstoht - Level 10 Dwarf Wizard

Ernstoht is another particularly unsavoury character. He was forced out from the Dwarven community in which he grew up in the Southern reaches of the Empire because of his unnatural appearance and magical tendencies. Not only was he particularly pasty-faced in his complexion but also never developed the usual facial hair which all Dwarves take immense pride in. Bitter and twisted from the constant abuse and cries of "Baldie" and "Girl-Face" that dogged his every step, Arneld fell into evil ways and bad company. He served an apprenticeship with a local Wizard who was said to have dealings with the Undead before joining Rennaez Bellok in his search for ancient artefacts and lost magical devices. He now sports a rather fetching "Chin-Wig" but it is still a somewhat touchy subject...

 

Level 3 magic ring - loaded with player’s choice of elemental spell.

Arneld may substitute any of his Battle Magic spells for Necromantic ones. 

10 Hammerers

Heavy armour, shields, 2 handed weapons and hand weapons

 

10 Thunderers

Light armour, arquebus and hand weapons

5 Troll Slayers

2 hand weapons

Barrow inhabitants

(WFB 3rd ed.)

1 Spectre

5 Skeleton warriors

Shields and hand weapons

1 Troll

Hand weapon

Assorted snakes

Of course any other gribbly monsters or undead nasties would be good too - All under the GM’s control of course!

Starting the Game

Bellok’s Dwarves should set up anywhere within 9 inches of the barrow.

Anjones’ mercenaries start the game on their choice of table edge.

Bellok’s force starts first, moving presumably towards the barrow. After that gameplay continues as normal.

The GM’s monsters are hidden within the barrow. They are activated as soon as either player enters the Barrow. Undead creatures may not leave the confines of the Barrow.
 

Victory Conditions

Whoever has possession of the hammer by the end of the game wins. The GM could determine a number of game turns or you could just fight to the bitter end!

Alternatively you could use these suggested victory points to determine who came out on top.

Both sides

Possession of the Old Hammer - 10 points

Skeleton killed - 1 point

Spectre destroyed - 5 points

Troll killed - 5 points

Indio Anjones’ Soldiers of Fortune

Bellok killed +5 points

Arneld Ernstoht killed +3 points

Dwarf Hammerers killed  +2 points each

Dwarf Thunderers killed  +1 point each

Troll Slayer killed +1 point each

Anjones killed -5 points

Mercenaries killed (all types) -1 point each

Rennaez Bellok’s Antiquarian Treasure Hunters

Anjones killed +5 points

Mercenaries killed (all types) +1 point each

Notes and Special Rules

The players should be unaware of exactly what guards the resting place of the hammer. The GM could have additional fun by enforcing magical darkness within the barrow and reducing line of sight accordingly.

A simple floor plan of the interior of the barrow could be created, on which any movement and combat could be worked out easily enough - monsters only appearing when the models are only 2 inches away, for example.

The Old Hammer of MacGuffin will confer magical powers on its wielder. This could be worked out randomly using stats from the rulebook or pre-decided by the GM.

If the GM is particularly evil it could even have negative effects on evil players or could have been cursed so it has a wasting effect each turn on a chosen stat line - strength or toughness for example...

There are various ways of gaining the possession of the Hammer once the enemy has it in their clutches. Obviously you will need to engage the owner of the Hammer in close combat. Once this has been resolved there are several outcomes -

The model holding the hammer is pushed back - roll 1D6 and compare to the attacker’s skill. If the number rolled is lower than the skill level then the Hammer has been grabbed from the defender in the confusion of the pushback. If the number rolled is higher then the defender has successfully held onto the weapon and the combat carries on as normal.

If the model holding the hammer is killed and is part of a greater unit then the player should choose which model it is passed to. If an individual character carrying the Hammer is killed and is not part of another unit then it automatically passes to the attacking model.

Special thanks to Knobgobbler for the fantastic illustrations!



Orlygg's Oldhammer Picture Post: A Retro Painting and Modelling Round Up!

This blog has lain dormant for some time now and after some discussion among members of the Oldhammer Community, we have decided to resurrect this small spice of the internet to serve the scene once again. As this blog is the second port of call after a search for 'Oldhammer' online, we felt it appropriate to use that to our advantage, so expect lots of changes to this site in the coming days. 

Now that I have that little bit of news across, I can explain to you what my part in this resurrection is. I am going to be doing a (roughly) weekly round-up of the best paint jobs and modelling projects from across the Oldhammer Community. So if you are new to us, it will be fairly easy for you to get straight into the action and if you are a old hand, then hopefully I have presented you with something that you missed first time around. 

Onwards then!  

I have picked this chap to begin with. This is a lovely model from Otto Von Bismark and there are plenty more to see on his blog. He has used Perry Miniatures plastics and a little greenstuff sculpting of his own to create some lobotomised slaves worthy of the Old Ones themselves. His flesh tones impressed me, largely due to the fact that painting convincing skin is one of the areas I am keen to improve in my own work. Here we can see a nice bronzed base tone, perfect for suggesting that this unfortunate has spent a little too much time under the Lustrian sun, and that tone is supported by good shading here and there with Army Painter ink washes. I feel that the bronze weapons also help support the 'Lustrian theme' and they bring more warmth to the figures. Contrast is provided with the red of the slave leash and, of course, the brilliant blue tattoos that suggest this slave's past wasn't as inglorious as its present. 

Next, some Rogue Trader goodness from the paintbrush of Whiskey Priest over at the The Lead Pile. When I first saw these I was really impressed. I loved the clean finish he'd managed to get out of his models and was impressed with the variety of touches in the unit. The hero's blonde hair, the green of the combat armour, the squat's face and the brilliant head scarf around one of his character's necks. These models are supposed to represent a Sensei warband and I feel that Whiskey Priest has done a great job in doing so. His work just goes to show that 40k doesn't need to be all GrImDaRk to succeed. 

This choice pic comes from Tiberius122 on CoolMiniOrNot. Here we have some old school orcs painted the way they should be. A strong 'goblin green' base helps brighten up these goblinoids and bring out the character in their faces. The reds and browns combine with the green to give these boyz a barbaric feel and the bases look like they have stepped out of Warhammer Armies. Skillful drybrushing of the iron of the weapons, chainmail and other pieces of armour also helps give the models a coherent look. 

Benedict Hallmark has shared with us his remarkable painted monstrosities from Amorcast. These nasty nibblies suggest all that is icky, sticky and rather silly about the Rogue Trader universe. The models he has chosen are great fun, and there are plenty more to see on his blog, but its the way Benedict has presented the models that strikes me the most. The attention to detail on the bases is exquisite, with smoothly blended earth tones and clever use of static grass and flowers. I looks to me that there are some plastic aquatic plants in there too. Coupled up with some splendidly painted Rogue Trader miniatures, a shed load of monsters from the RT rulebook and a splendid catachan devil, this is a blog that would be a crime to ignore. 

Thantsants has long been an inspiration to me. His blog has a great mix of classic Warhammer, and equally classic Doctor Who miniature goodness. This week I have been goggling over the massed racks of his Armoured Orcs. What I love about his work is the way that it is presented. Not only are the models very tastefully done (and I mean that they are in keeping with the WFB3 era when I say this) but they are very well photographed too. I mean, his scenery is to die for is it not? Now many of you will know that I am a big fan of hand painted shields and banners, and looking across the ranks of Ruglud's finest I am pretty certain I can see one or two of these on show. And when dealing with this number of orcs, that is no mean feat! If you are not a regular reader of The Tea's getting Cold, pop on over and check out the rest of his old school orc army. 

No round up would be complete without a visit to Nico. Here I present his incredible conversion of the classic '80s minotaur sculpt. Painted in his usual style; he favours non-metallic effects to suggest the iron armour and chases the detail with subtle yellow. Why use words to describe his work when the pictures can do so much more?

I am a huge fan of Don Hans work. He is the painter that I wish I could be. His tones are beautifully blended, rich in depth and vibrant. Want more, well pop on over to the http://realmofcitadel.blogspot.co.uk/ and be prepared to be blown away. Here I present some of his more recent work, a werewolf from a very early Citadel release in 1979. As always, this figure illustrates Don's grasp of colour. I love the way he harmonizes colour throughout the whole model without the finished look being cluttered and untidy. And the bases? The bright, almost bone white bases really help his vibrant work stand out further. This is the stuff that inspiration is made from. 

It seems that Rob S over at 6 Iron Spikes doesn't just churn out interesting podcasts concerning his gaming group's progress in the Enemy Within Campaign, but he can also produce a tasty model or two in between roleplaying sessions. Here I present some of his Talisman figures. It seems that this boardgame, and the associated miniatures released for it, are rather in vogue at the moment, especially considering the amount the models are going for on eBay. This collection exhibits some excellent choices for colour schemes, with each model being different. I am not sure if he has based these on illustrations related from the game or if he has plucked them out of his imagination? Anyone know? Ron seems to use a very skillful layering technique to build up nice flat colours but leave just enough to create depth on his figures. Stand out model needs to be the druid, seen back left, as the subtle blues contrast perfectly with the bright woodland green of the laurels. 

Orlygg