Well, my ancient 40K models have been well and truly dusted off (or rather painted up). 5th edition called, babe - it wants its models back!
A visit to the local gaming shop showed me just how much GW have lifted their game since then - the samey mono-pose Marines are so dynamic now. But since these cost me $0 that is what is getting played with. Here are this week's new factions for my KillFinity d12 house rules. (A blend of stripped-back d12-based Infinity with the less-lethal stats and percentages of Necromunda/40K/KT).
Currently my son's Tau are trying to rescue the survivors of his last game from the Necron flayers, but the game has been interrupted by the arrival of a new 15ft Nacra catamaran (me) and the discovery of Skyrim/Oblivion/Morrowind (him). We play a few rounds every night.
^Actually, visitors may be able to help - exactly what weapons are these Tyrannid Warriors armed with? I think I got them from an ebay job lot so I have no idea; although the weapon with the glowy green nutsack attached is probably a flamer or plasma analogue, right?
I planned to paint these the now-default Leviathan purple/grey but my daughter insisted on more xenomorph-y green and black (Aliens recently made the dad-and-daughter move night playlist). They had already been based so I couldn't do any creative kitbash chestburster shenaningans but I did quickly add some alien-looking coral (I'm in useful proximity to the Great Barrier Reef).
The Tyannids took my painted count to 211, but in my rummaging I found more stuff....These old Chaos were horrifically same-y poses, but if I painted two factions, I reckon I could be justified in some new purchases, right? ......Some ebay Dark Elf warriors and some rescue-job Incubi (~15 minis) removed $90 from my budget (retail in Australia for both is $175 so... yay I guess?). The painted total is now 230 in the last two months. But 200 sounds better so the title stays.
Stop press: I just found some Orks but as I hate the look/vibe of the stupid cockney potato green-as-grass 40K orks (I'm a heretic to most I'm sure)... I'm not sure if they actually will get painted.
I've got a few game design thoughts mulling around in my head:
a) The problem created by our perfectly-flat game tables, and the issue with hills/slopes in wargames and
b) rulebook best practice (triggered by being unable to fine Infinity's grenade rules)...
...but they tend to take a while to type up, so I'll see when I get to it.
Backup projects:
My current "make a wargame in an hour" challenged when bored on a car trip produced 'Aeronef Gothic'... which will look like/should play like about how you'd suspect. When I finally decide to base my WW2 15mm insurgents individually (like all my other 15mm) or FoW-style (like my other WW2 15mm) Tankmunda was (last playtest anyway) in a pretty playable state, so I'll post up some playtests when I get to them, if folk are interested.
The Tyranid Warriors are armed with Barbed Strangler, Venom Cannon and Deathspitter (from left to right). Awesome names...
ReplyDeleteThanks! I can now "stat them up" in my homebrew rules - I tend to approximate the GW purpose/use/power of the weapon...
Delete-eM
You're welcome. I am not sure what these weapons do nowadays. In 2nd Edition, they were all over the place regarding their rules, as it was common back then. The Venom Cannon had four interlinked templates where you had to role for each of them separately for positioning. While we really enjoyed 2nd Edition back then, even as children we knew that the weapon rules sometimes suck.
DeleteThe current GW models are really good quality and very dynamic. It is really hard to resist buying them. There are only two reasons why I am not drowning in them. 1. My pile of potential is already huge (stil a lot of 15mm WW2 in front of me). 2. My wife.
ReplyDeleteMy wife is somewhat on-side of hobby purchases; as she approves creative terrain making and playing games with my kids as it is a 'good role model' vis-a-vis screentime etc; also I tend to use old stuff/build stuff at a high ratio, e.g.
DeleteI have a "paint 2 get 1" rule that allows me to buy new minis if I paint/use them at a 2:1 ratio i.e. technically it is OK for me to by 100 if I paint 200 as I am +100 net... which also encourages me to paint and use stuff if I want new toys!
GW in Australia is not cheap though. My daughter liked some Sisters of Battle but.... $110AUD is 60euro or 70USD! For some bits of injection molded plastic.... yeeek
I have 0 interest in 40K/KT itself, but making homebrew rules it makes sense to match the rules/stats to such easy-to-obtain models.
-eM
At those prices, OOP 2E metal almost seems reasonable!
Delete- GG
I actually have some OOP metal Vostroyans someone gave me...
Deletehttps://deltavector.blogspot.com/2026/02/d12-killfinity-necroteam.html
...now they are probably worth a fortune!
-eM
Maybe I have to implement a similar rule as I am much better in buying miniatures than building and painting them (the painting is the biggest problem). Maybe this will increase the acceptance from my wife.
DeleteI think the issue with GW miniatures is that you need a lot of them for regular 40k. So, you need to pay around 1000 Dollar for a full army. From my perspective the price per miniature is ok for what you get (e.g. miniatures of the highest quality with an awesome background) if you don't buy any characters. They are completely overpriced.
I am also not very interested in current GW games but am open for some retro gaming of 2nd edition 40k or using the awesome miniatures for something else.
Having a paint 2 buy 1 also incentivizes you: "paint x and y and then you can buy a new z"
DeleteWives also do like "play with the toys you've got before you go buying new ones"... at least with my sample size of one.
-eM
Metal Guard are worth a pretty penny, and the Vostroyans are a little rare, coming out towards the end of the metal era.
DeleteI have a full Forest regiment in Zeltbahn ponchos using Tallarn models, with a mechanized detachment of the Bedford-sculpted Stormtroopers. I really love playing with the metal infantry, they're so nice on the tabletop.
I think the Praetorian Guard based on Mordians, but with 'Zulu' style pith helmets are the biggest crowd pleaser.
- GG
“Having a paint 2 buy 1 also incentivizes you: "paint x and y and then you can buy a new z"”
DeleteThat makes sense. I think I just need to increase the ratio to at least 3 to 1 to somehow reduce my pile of potential. There are around 10 FoW armies lurking in there in addition to some 28mm miniatures (40k, Malifaux, Infinity, Bolt Action).
“Wives also do like "play with the toys you've got before you go buying new ones"... at least with my sample size of one.”
I think mine likes that too, as she often complains that I don´t use the toys that much that I already bought.
15mm (FoW) is actually pretty low-hanging fruit/easy to paint, as it's more the infantry base then the minis. Getting started will be the issue: as once you get on a roll they're quick to knock out.
DeleteYou don't need (and can't actually do) elaborate 15mm camo schemes/details. Going a shade lighter = better with small models.
Uniform, webbing, skin, gun barrel/stock. Maybe a wash. That's not many coats! The vehicles are fine with a basecoat-wash-highlight.
Do an army and let us know how you went! Do you have a blog or something where you can share stuff?
If you want a use for 40K or Infinity models, here are freebie rules:
https://freewargamesrules.fandom.com/wiki/Freewargamesrules_Wiki
FAD and FUBAR are by good authors are pretty complete/functional when I last played them (admittedly years ago).
Alternately, I can stick my current d12 rules up in the google group. I'm planning on making myself some solo rules/guidelines if I'm not distracted...
Of the commercial skirmish games, I'm not totally in the loop anymore as I dislike spending my limited budget on a $25 freakin pdf.
-eM
10 armies is too many, when 2 or 3 is more than enough for anything more than a small skirmish. FoW, is great with just stereotypical Soviet (infantry), German (armor) and (combined) American (or UK if you're really into them) forces. Sell the rest.
DeleteSimilarly, at the game level. Are you going to play both Flames and Bolt Action?
Or at least sell everything that's still boxed after a year. Selling untouched stuff is the fastest way to clear the Closet of Shame, removing the dark cloud over your head.
- GG
Note that new GW are significantly larger than ever before. They are different scales and styles, so they don't really mesh.
ReplyDelete- GG
I discovered the "32mm base" the other day. I wonder if they are a bit bigger than PP/Warmachine ones on purpose...
Delete-eM
There are also 28,5mm bases to increase the confusion. It really seems to be on purpose to reduce compatibility with oder editions or usage with other rule systems. Same with choosing 8mm scale for Adeptus Titanicus and Legions Imperialis to avoid compatibility with old Epic models.
DeleteThe worst was the idea that people would rebase Fantasy from square to round.
DeleteThat was the end of GW Fantasy for me.
- GG
Square bases suck though, so no loss. :-P
Delete-eM
Aeronef Gothic all ready exists. It is called Castles in the Sky! LOL
ReplyDelete- Eric Farrington
Whilst it was 100x better than the rules we had before it, I sorta found it wasn't the game I (personally) wanted. I was after a simpler, old school dice-chugging BFG/Titanicus feel.
DeleteThat said, my last test play was ages ago...
-eM
Aliens!!! So good.
ReplyDeleteSadly I don't think my daughter's are ready for that one yet.