The scourge of the Northymbrian coast

hi all,

Following on from last week, I literally just finished the last of my newest warband for Burrows & Badgers so thought I would showcase them. With all of my warbands there is some crossover with other models, which is a testament to the utility of this beautiful miniature range.

the crew of the "Black Cutlass"

Up and down the Northymbrian coast and the lands beyond, pirates lay waste to settlements, disrupt shipping and plunder the wealth of the Kingdom. The Black Cutlass is one of those talked about in hushed tones by the common folk of Northymbria. Swift as lightning, the reavers of the "Cutlass" sweep through the villages and monasteries of the coast, causing mayhem and leaving chaos in their wake.

Oswald Otter and Olive Otter - large animals

The Otter siblings, Oswald and Olive provide the crew with some much needed muscle. Otters are strong animals, which add to the damage their heavy blades can cause. Oswald also carries a pistol, with Olive sporting a sling meaning that both can offer some ranged options as well. In fact all of the crew carry a mix of both hand and ranged weapons, meaning that they are very versatile in the way they can deploy.

Pierre Polecat - medium animal

Pierre is a very ambitious animal indeed, as the Third Mate of the Black Cutlass, he is the lowest officer on the ship, but he has his eye on bigger things.  This unfortunately is being hampered by the Second Mate - Roland and his ever vigilant bodyguard Reggie. These canny black rats always seem to be one step ahead and thwart his every move. However, this hasn't stopped him dreaming of someday climbing the ranks.

Reggie Rat and Roland (yes i know) Rat - medium animals

First Mate "Salty" Sam Shrew and Sal Shrew - small animals

First Mate "Salty" Sam is the 2nd in command of the Black Cutlass, this wily shrew has maintained his position through sheer viciousness. He knows how ambitious Pierre is and encourages the rivalry between him and Roland, figuring that the more energy they expend on each other, the less they have to turn in his direction.

Captain Percival Puffin - large bird

Finally we have the main erm.. man, Capt Percival (who may or may not look like a certain other captain). Capt Percival comes from a rather more lawful lineage than one would expect from one of the most feared pirate captains in the kingdom. Youngest scion of the Bebbanburg Puffin family, Percival was a bird without a position in society. His eldest brother Ponsiby, the heir to the family estates was always needling him to make something of himself, and the second son - Pinot was a fancy captain in a special Royal guard unit and looked down his beak at his wastrel kin. One fateful night, in a seedy gambling den somewhere in the bowels of Bebbanburg, Percival found himself in a high stakes card game with a grizzled brown rat. After a long, tense night Percival was sat behind stacks of coins, his opponent looking shiftily at his cards and back at the massive pot and licking his lips. With the hook that had replaced his right paw, the massive rat pushed a scrap of paper across the scarred table. 

"Its the deed to me ship" he drawled in a raspy, whiskey ravaged voice. 

Percival, deadpan with a sigh that gave off a worried air, reluctantly nodded. 

With a flourish the pi-rat threw down his cards in triumph, one paw reaching for the pot. Percival lifted a flight feather in a "wait" motion and deliberately placed his winning hand down on the table a card at a time. A hush fell in the crowded tavern as the puffin began scooping the coins and the piece of paper into his hat. Looking up he looked across the scarred table and down the barrel of a large pistol. The huge rat grinned a nasty smile and pulled the trigger. As the smoke cleared, Percival swivelled his head and looked at the huge chunk of wood that had splintered out of the booth behind him. With an evil smirk that matched the one the rat had worn, the puffin reached for his own pistol...

hope you enjoy

dGG

Burrows and Badgers - warbands part 1

hi all,

Years and years ago, I was at Salute and I was perusing the stalls and generally having a good nose at all the fantastic products on show. When I come across a small independent merchant with an absolute belter of game, where anthropomorphic animals fought skirmishes. There were mouse knights and shrew beserkers facing off against fox rogues and crafty rats, I had discovered Burrows and Badgers from Oathsworn. At that time, I was very into Bushido and had spent pretty much my whole budget at GCT and Hasslefree Miniatures, which meant that sadly I couldn't afford the beautiful miniatures on offer, so with great reluctance walked away, with sad backwards glances.

Fast forward to about 18 months ago and I start reattending TWC, my local games club and what do I find? a thriving Burrows and Badgers community! oh hell yeah!! I jumped in with both feet and purchased my first warband made up purely of models I liked the look of... It was a disaster - not because the models aren't amazing because they really are lush, or because of Oathsworn because they have literally the best customer service I have ever experienced in the hobby (massive shout out to the Lovejoys for being a positive force in this hobby). Nope it was a disaster because it had no shape, synergy, composition - but boy did it look good.  Since then I've been absolutely hooked and every couple of months I order a few more models and have built up quite a selection. So I thought I'd show a few off over the next couple of weeks.

First up is the second warband I bought, this time it had a theme, can you guess what it is?

The Flying Squad, a special unit formed the ranks of the Royalist factions of Northymbria

l-r Capt Pinot (Pelican - large bird), Sgt Ottis (Owl - large raptor),
Magis Rosie (Raven - massive bird), Big Red (Red Kite - massive raptor)

l-r Scotty (Sparrow - small bird), Simon (Sparrow), Kevin (Kingfisher - small bird)
Cpl Solomon (Sparrow Hawk - medium raptor), Stella (Starling - medium bird)

Magis Bernard (Bat - small animal)

Next up is a warband from the wilds of Strath Clota, wearing their famous tartan, these fierce warriors raid the towns and villages of Northymbria. Incidentally, the tartan is actually my family tartan on my maternal side.

l-r, Sandy (Squirrel - medium animal), Clara (Cat - medium animal),
Harry (Hedgehog - medium animal)

l-r, Fergus (Ferret - medium), Wilhamena (Wildcat - large animal),
Haggis (Hound - medium)

l-r, Scotty (Sparrow - small bird), Maggie (mouse - small), Mervin (mouse - small)

that's it for this week,

hope you enjoy

dGG

Mansions of Madness

 hi all,

A late post and a very quick one as we go into traditional winter pressures in the NHS and my work/life balance tips toward the work side.

In a fit of complete laziness (and long suffering despair of knowing what I want for xmas and my birthday, which is only 4 days after!), my wife has just let me go mad with some board game companies currently holding a Black Friday event and I must admit I went to town - that town being Innsmouth!

To that I have managed to secure Mansions of Madness base game and 3 of the 5 expansions. For those of you who don't know, MoM is a game produced by Fantasy Flight Games and is a horror type game styled by the works of Lovecraft in a Cthhuluesque setting. It is for 1-5 players playing cooperatively to investigate a series of scenarios that pit them against a sinister cult and it's nefarious minions. The game is run by a free to purchase app and its the app that decides the layouts and obstacles/opponents that you will face and each replay is slightly different, allowing for multiple replays of the same scenario. It also allows for solo play, which is appealing to me due to my awkward hours restricting my access to my games club. Thankfully my wife allowed me take the miniatures from the games early so i can get painting - gotta love that woman!

So far I have only painted the investigators and one of the main antagonists, but they do look splendid!

hope you enjoy

dGG

Coming to da Grotto soon

hi all

so that was a lot of work that went into both playing but mostly writing up the games for Zombtober. I hope that you enjoyed reading the latest episodes of the English ZA I have been developing for the last few years. 

As my appetite for smaller skirmish games has been growing, I have been on the lookout for other systems that fit the bill. While skimming You Tube I came across a video that was titled something like "The Top Ten Skirmish Games". Intrigued, I watched with more than a little interest as the author gave compelling reasons as to why the games made the top ten. To be honest I hadn't heard of half of them, or if I had heard of them i hadn't played them. It just goes to show how insular I have been as a former GW player, ignoring some of the nicest rule sets and miniatures that are currently in production. Following that, I started watching more and more of these types of videos and began to compile a list of the next 3 or so purchases that I intended to invest my hard earned hobby tokens in. note i have been super lazy and just pulled images and the descriptions straight from the websites...

So in no particular order we have - Moonstone

Moonstone takes place in the land of Tauber, a mythical isle of fantasy and fairytale where humans, goblins, faeries, gnomes, giants, fauns, trolls, merfolk and more, all thrive under the golden sun and pearlescent moons.

These days, Tauber is both turbulent but also relatively peaceful; there is little to no war, and most disagreements are seen as nothing more than squabbles or differences of opinion.

However, when the moons shine bright on a clear night the moonstones appear.

Sprouting out of the ground like so many crystalline toadstools, moonstones are both mysterious and valuable. The Wizards at the Tower of Grommel offer a fine sum of gold for any moonstones that are brought to them intact. The trouble, however, as soon as the light of the blazing sun touches them, moonstones will disappear as if nothing more than dust.

Still, the leaders of both Commonwealth and Dominion send forth their warriors, magicians and rogues to secure the moonstones to sell to the mysterious Wizards. The Leshavult seek stones for money, but also for their own arcane reasons. Shades, once thought lost to the ages, are skulking in abandoned cities and many fear that the time of peace, prosperity and unlimited teacakes is coming to an end…

This game has some of the lushest, quirkiest miniatures that I have seen in some time and I'm soooo excited to get my brush on them. The game play looks fun with a unique combat system, where you can mimic the hack and slash of swordplay that should keep the fights from just being a dice throw down.

Next is Malifaux

Malifaux, a twisted mirror of an alternate Earth in the 1900s; a world of gothic horror, Victorian structures, steampunk constructs, and wild west gunslingers. Rife with undead amalgamations, monstrous vengeful apparitions, and other creatures that bump in the night, these near-lawless lands are still worth treading for some, as the Soulstones deep within the cavernous catacombs are worth more than the sweat and blood it takes to obtain them.

The lure of Malifaux’s valuable Soulstones has brought the powerful, the desperate, the ambitious, and the cunning to Malifaux from Earth. The Guild’s control of the Breach ensures that it remains a dominant power within Malifaux City, but it is challenged on all sides by the sabotage and magical prowess of the Arcanists and the shuffling undead that serve the foul Resurrectionists.

The Outcasts, a loose collection of mercenaries and other ne’er-do-wells, sell their services to the highest bidder when not pursuing their own individual objectives, and the mysterious Ten Thunders crime syndicate works from the shadows to extend its influence throughout the city.

Not every threat to Malifaux comes from Earth, however. The ancient Neverborn will not easily surrender their lands to what they see as foreign invaders, and the Gremlins of the Bayou have become quite powerful by learning from and mimicking the humans that seized control of Malifaux City.

Malifaux is currently in its 3rd ed and has been around for a while. I've been looking at it for a long while and admiring the beautiful miniatures, but now it's time to take the plunge and purchase the game and some minis. The card driven combat system is particularly appealing to me as it mitigates poor dice rolling. The setting for Malifaux lends itself to just about any type of terrain - steampunk type cities, deserts, haunted forests, medieval type villages, so my extensive terrain collection and future terrain projects can all be used/satisfied. And have i mentioned the minis...

I mean phew!! they are just gorgeous.

Lastly I'm going to jump into Carnevale

The year is 1795. A great Rent has torn open reality and sunk most of Europe beneath the waves. Only one place stands untouched by the calamity: Venice.

By day the city bustles, the Queen of the Adriatic taking pride of place once again as the West’s capital of trade. However, by night Venice takes on a darker persona, both figuratively and literally masking itself. Gangs stalk the canals looking for blood, the clandestine secret societies making themselves known to fight for their own corner of the city.

But more sinister still, the Rent in the Sky has opened the path for otherworldly phenomena. Magic spills out from the world beyond the veil, bringing with it creature devoted to ancient deities. Deities who look on the burgeoning Venetian empire and smile at the madness unfolding.

Carnevale is a small scale skirmish game focused on freedom of movement combined with brutal combat and impressive magical abilities. Jump from rooftop to rooftop to hunt your opponent’s gang, or dive deep into the canals to drown your enemies.

This game really appeals to me and my love of beautiful and immersive gaming boards. This game rewards you if you take risky moves and jump across rooftops in a very parkour way.  But most importantly look at these minis...

Assassins Creed meets Cthulhu

Vampires...

and corrupt Nobles...

Tbh, I'm just looking forward to building some fun boards

So exciting times ahead and some skirmish fun on the way. I'm gonna look at starter sets for all 3 games and build up from there.

hope you enjoy

dGG

ps apologies for the font changes. I'm having real issues with blogspot and my laptop.

The Brock's Rest part 1(?) - ATZ an English Adventure

Peering into the gloomy interior, Bobby edged into the Brock's Rest Tavern with April just behind him, her assault rifle up and tracking left to right. Weak daylight poured through ancient leaded windows, illuminating a bar area that belonged in a different era. Flagstones clad the floor and huge oak beams lined the walls and low ceiling. Wall mounted torches flickered as small gusts took the flames, causing them to dance. Across the massive open room stood an enormous wooden bar, complete with barrels atop the surfaces and more in place of bar stools, with 'old world' style glasses, mugs and tankards scattered across it.  It all had a very cozy feel to it, that was if you could ignore the zombies - oh and the human that was fighting them...

our heroes walk into a fight!

as per my rules for this game, walking into the tavern will reveal 6 cards
at suburban level - 7 x zeds and my special character (not Carolee...)

"Howay, my friends" a cheery voice shouted from behind the bar, his northern drawl marking him as a Geordie. "Have you come to join this little party?" He punctuated his remark by lifting an assault rifle of his own and shooting a zombie in the head and dropping it to the flagstones. "I'm Bryan, by the way" he added with a cheeky grin toward April.

Bryan shoots a zed from behind the bar

April gawked at the man behind the bar, not tall, running to fat and dressed in a T shirt decorated with a veluptuous female vampire, the man did not seem very imposing. The cheeky grin and soft geordie accent completed the picture of what, in different times might have been considered a bit of a geek. However, the competent handling of the firearm and accuracy of the shot, as well as the long katana strapped to his waist hinted at someone to whom the apocalypse had seen them flourish!

"Hi Bryan" she managed after a second or two, returning his grin with her 1000w smile. "I'm April" punctuating he reply with a burst of gunfire of her own, with similar results. "and this is Bobby" indicating the camera man as he followed suit.

The zombies close in on the humans as they 'meet and greet'

unbeknown to them, the gunfire has drawn zeds from upstairs down
into the common room

Pulling his katana, Bryan hurried toward the two infected that were heading toward the bar and in a flurry of strokes cut them down. April stood open mouthed watching the geeky geordie, mesmerised by the almost graceful movements, totally at odds with the portly nature of the man. So distracted by this display was she, that she accidentally discharged her weapon into the ancient stone floor.

Bobby sighed as he picked off an approaching zed, April always did this. Whenever a fat, nerdy guy was about the beautiful red-head became infatuated. It was astonishing and also funny to watch - normally, as a succession of buff, male model types threw themselves at her just to be rebuffed and sent away with a scathing put down. Only to see her fluttering her long lashes at a completely oblivious, Dungeons and Dragons loving super virgin... Even the zeds seemed to pause to watch the burgeoning crush 

meanwhile in the common room more zeds join the growing horde

Bryan scuttled over to join them, oblivious to the long looks coming from the infatuated reporter, shooting from the hip nonchalantly at the zed behind the bar and dropping it, much to April's delight. Not to be outdone, Bobby shot the last D-sub in the bar area and shook his head as his colleague stood dumbstruck.

the bar area is clear

but more zeds gather in the gloom of the common room

10 of the undead monsters stand swaying in the darkened room.

Bryan took a cautious step into the common room, wincing as his foot thumped down on the floor which had changed from stone to oak planking. The low light of the fire he had lit earlier, cast a flickering gloom across the massive open area, revealing the tables and upturned stools that had in better times no doubt been laden with scrumptious pub food and filled with laughing patrons. A low groan coming from all sides of the room, caused him to pause and raise his rifle.

the former residents of the tavern are revealed in the dim light of the fire

and there are lots of them

lots and lots

Bryan stepped backward, his feet shuffling back onto the flagstones and his rifle barking as he triggered a burst at the approaching horde. "Watch out" he managed to gasp as the wave of infected humans fell over the journalists. Bobby fired a long burst of his own, taking down a zed, before smashing the butt of the rifle into the face of another, causing it to fall over. April, overwhelmed by the ferocity of the attack barely had time to raise her weapon before her attacker was on her. She shrieked in pain as filthy nails were dragged across her cheek, laying it down to the bone. Swinging wildly with the rifle and half blinded by blood from her gruesome wound, she missed and dropped to a knee as she overbalanced. The zombie snapped its teeth mere inches from her throat as it's clawed hands drew more ragged wounds down her shoulders and arms. A thumping blow from the zed as they clashed heads stunned her and she fell fully to the floor, the darkness rising up to meet her.

April loses the melee against her opponent

as Bobby takes care of his...

more zeds are drawn in

"NOOOOO!" Bobby screamed as he saw the filthy zombie batter April to the ground. Drawing the combat knife that his colleague had scavenged for him, he slammed the blackened blade into the side of its head hilt deep.   A long burst of machine gun fire nearby indicated that Bryan, the mysterious northerner was still in the fight. 

With his original opponents still trying to get up and April's attacker down, Bobby heaved the bleeding reporter onto his muscular shoulder and retreated towards the oak door. With his free hand he reached for the walkie-talkie that he knew was linked to some new friends of the red-headed reporter and keyed the 'talk' button.

"MEDICS" he roared into the device, mimicking the soldiers he had toured with as a reporter in Afghanistan. "MEDICS" he repeated, as Bryan headed toward him, laying a stream of fire behind them, dropping more zeds as they stumbled towards the fleeing humans.

more and more zeds stream forward

Bryan reached passed him and opened the thick timbered doors to the Tavern and the pair stumbled out of the building into the daylight. Quickly, the stout geordie threw the door shut, and retreated back away as Bobby spat information into the radio. Bryan couldn't quite make out the words but he heard a male voice on the other end of the device replying to the frantic cameraman.

Looking around, the ex-graphic designer turned apocalypse survival expert spotted the eccentric looking building across the courtyard. Pulling on the young man's free shoulder, he dragged him and his unconscious burden toward the house.

With a grunt he pushed through the door and into an open plan ground floor. A tiled floor, once pristine showed some signs of a recent fight, with some bloodstains marking the spot. Bobby eased April onto the floor and stepped back, trying vainly to surpress a sob, and began to beg the voice on the radio for instructions. "What do I do? what do I do?" he repeated as the walkie-talkie burst back into life.

"We're on our way" came a new voice, softer, female, more soothing. "In the meantime you need to find some bits and help April until we get there"

Bobby and Bryan listened in awe at the competent sounding voice on the other end of the line, and let that professionalism calm their jangling nerves. Help was coming, they just needed to do their part and it would all be ok....wouldn't it?

Bryan "Vampifan" Scott

hope you enjoy

dGG