Category Archives: Uncategorized

Flames of War Battle Report Germans Vs Soviets Fortress Europe

As many of you know, I have been teaching myself how to play flames of war. I did the basic annihilation battle a week ago and wasn’t impressed with the ruleset. I felt that the game played simple and there was little room for tactics beyond flanking. I wished you could do things like pin tanks with mortar fire etc. However, I started the 2nd game and probably a 3rd to get a better feel for the system. I have to say the Encounter battle we faced seemed much better. The forced reinforcements add a ton to the game. I also learned how important terrain would be. I felt like the more open game was just a waste of time. Adding woods, houses walls ruins added a significant amount as well. Below is the updated setup.

Below are the army lists I used for this battle.

Soviet Union##PtsGermans##Pts
Churchill Guards Tank Regiment28Panzer III/ IV Tank Company51
Churchill13Panzer IV211
Churchill Heavy Tank Company413Panzer IV316
KV-1s Guards Heavy Tank312Tiger224
Hero Rifle Battalion32Grenadier Company36
Hero Rifle HQ PPSH SMG Team22MP40 SMG Team22
Hero Rifle Company, 1 Kommisar, 2 Anti Tank Rifles, 2 HMG, 1 Mortar711Grenadier Platoon, 2 HMG, 2 Panzershrek715
Hero Rifle Company, 1 Kommisar, 2 HMG, 1 Mortar78Grenadier Platoon55
120mm Mortar Company338cm Mortar Platoon46
76 MM Gun453.7 cm Tank Hunter48
122 MM Howitzer48Ferdinand Tank Hunter113
T-34 Tank Batallaion32
T-34 HQ13
T-34 Tank Company824
T-70 Tank Company55

The roll off featured the Germans as the defenders. The germans could either put all infantry and their tank hunter in reserve or all the tanks. I chose to put in all the tanks. I think the mobility of the tanks allows them to enter the fight quicker.

The Soviets put the T-34 tank Battallion and the 122mm Howitzer in reserve. The number of russians far exceeded the Germans which was a surprise. To see it on the table really hit home. My strategy for the Russians was pick a spot and overwhelm. While the Germans just needed to hang on for their reserves before offering a counterattack.

The 2nd picture shows how quickly the germans were eradicated. The tiger tanks did their best to hold the upper area of the board, but it wasn’t mean to be. By turn 5 the Soviets had tabled the Germans. Their timely reinforcements vs no German reserves was a brutal blow.

Hobby Streak 01/17/2023

The hobby streak crashed and burned around Christmas. Coupled with trying to get to level 250 in Call of Duty. I haven’t hobbied much until the last week.

A few things that didn’t get pictures. I finalized a massive structure for the DND Campaign. It was 3d printed, no color has been added yet. I also primed the player models and had our session 0. Crafted most of the story, our first game is set for this upcoming Sunday. I think this is where we will chronicle the party’s efforts. Expect a new page and weekly DND posts.

For the streak, I did hobby on Saturday the 14th and have maintained it since then. My elves are producing models at an alarming rate. I hate building models and have 3 hired hands that assist in their spare time. One is working on my Horus Heresy Collection, one on Star Wars Legion, and one on Flames of War. I will officially own a unit of most Flames of War models across the 5 main European players soon.

I produced a couple random DND monsters. I had an hour or so and sat down with my airbrush, and went to work. I prepared some trees for the terrain. I glued a crap ton of scenery for Marvel Crisis Protocol. I am 100% complete with all MCP except the December and January releases, which felt huge. I can’t wait to begin painting those.

In the next week, you can expect a fully finished dwarven army. I have 45 models left to paint. 25 pikemen, and 20 warriors. The warriors are all primed and will begin being painted this very afternoon. I just printed the pikemen; they need to wash and cure and will be back to work. I also have 10 dnd minis that need to be done. Our 7 PC’s, 2 Velociraptors, and an NPC.

I would upload pictures, but……. fail. Until next week.

3D Prints This Week

Something I haven’t talked about much is my 3d Printing addiction. It is an addiction and a problem. At any one time I have 3 3D printers going. 2 Resin and One SLA. I have a second SLA printer still in the box a 2nd DLP still in the box, and one opened but needs a new LCD also ready.

My current projects are too numerous to count. I am constantly printing terrain buildings, resin pieces for the ships and resin armies for no other reason than why not.

My current projects are printing a shit ton of Hexeton Hills in preparation for my next DND campaign. The smaller Resin DLP printer produces high-quality masts and sails for my age of sail ship collection. I want like 120 ships total between just the British and French. 50 or so more Spanish and 40 American. The French and British ships are mostly printed. Now we just need some paint and sails.



The SLA printer is producing fantasy terrain for what else, my DND campaign. Notably buildings. Right now it is working on about a 6 kg townhall that covers 11 total prints.

Hobby Streak 12/6 to 12/15

Wow a whopping 9 days since my last post. I can say that business has been unusually busy. We plow snow in the winter time and we have plowed 5 straight days. When you start at 2 am I don’t have a ton of energy for posting.

On 12/6 I painted the final model for my escalation AOS campaign. The starseer. Only contrast paints and some gold. He didn’t turn out great but I was out of time.

12/7. Game day, the final for the AOS Escalation campaign. My opponent was very young and struggled to play the objectives. I will have a full battle report up at some point. I did win going to 3-1 finishing a strong 2nd. My only loss was to the winner of the tournament. I lost at the 500 pt level in my first game.

12/8. I finalize a map for my DND campaign. I have started working on their primer and I have always found a map is nearly essential.

wolf-toe-islandDownload

12/9,12/10,12/11

Finished a unit of 20 dwarven longbeards. I only had about 30-45 minutes each day so getting 20 done I was happy with.

12/12 The snow begins. I assembled and inventoried the last of my Marvel Crisis Protocol Models. I was missing 4 kits, already been purchased. And once those are assembled I can start doing paint tutorials.

12/13 Another snow day. I took about 30 minutes and airbrushed some DND furniture and a couple of artillery pieces for the dwarves. The dwarves should be quick to finalize.

12/14 Another snow day. I did have some time in the office and started a map for the starting city for DND. The cities name is Challa. Here are the demographics. I will post the full map when complete. I also need to work out certain leaders and such. Prepare some plot hooks and as a whole get ready for the players to wreak havoc.

The City of Challa Population4760Children793      
Special Locations Government Employees Peasants Skilled Labor Crafstman Soldier Underworld 
Academy0Advisor2Barmaid12Bakers15Alchemist1Archer (guard)9Assasin0
Arena0Bailiff0Barkeep11Bankers10Armorer2Barbarian4Assasin’s Guild0
Aristocrat House1Clerk1Bathkeeper2Barber15Artist1Crossbowman guard12Brigand2
Audience Chamber0Diplomat1BeerSeller5Beekeeper1Astrologer2Fighter2Highwayman2
Bank2Hayward1Begger15Butcher4Blacksmith3Footman (soldier)11Mercenary Leader1
Public Bath0Jailer2Bricklayer5Carpenters6Bleachers3General0Mercenary7
Barracks0Jester0Builder7Clothworker2Bookbinder2Guardsmen32Spy0
Brothel2Judge0Cart Driver11Dyer8Booksellers1Infantryman4Thief2
Church or Temple9Lawyer12Cheese Maker3Groom9Boyer5Longbowman1Aristocracy 
Colusium0Lord1Chicken Butcher5Horse Trainer20Brewer10Swordsmen2Aristocrat3
Courthouse1Minister1Chimeny Sweep16Locksmith2Brickmaker3NavyMan17Guildmaster3
Domina (gladiator house)0Reeve2Clotheswasher11Magic Shop3Buckle Maker2Traveling Salesmen Royalty0
Festiville Square1Steward1Courtesean6Painter4Candlemaker17Caravan Leader1Naval 
Gambling Den1Torturer0Cowherd7Pastrycooks12Cartwright5Peddler7Boatbuilder5
Granary1Scholars Cripple3Potter9Chandlers5Tinkerer2Boatmen20
Guildhouse1Archivist1Dairymaid5Shopkeeper7Cobbler5Medicine Workers Diver6
Hospital0Clergy119Drunk13Shoemaker24Coopers9Apothecary6Ferrymen6
Inns3Copyists2Eunuch1Tailor17Cutlers2Dentist5Fisherman21
Jail0Historian1Farmer366Tavern Keeper13Distiller3Doctor2Fishmonder5
Library0Interpreter2Fruit Seller4Weavers8Fletcher7Healer12Longshormeman21
Market2Librarian1Furriers21Wine-Seller15Glovmarkers2Medicine Men2Navigator2
Mages Lodge1Linguist0Gongfarmer37Exquisite Cafts Goldsmith3Midwife4Pirate4
Menagerie0Monk4Grocer12Architect0Harness Makers2Nurse4Privateer4
Museum1Nun4Hermit1Cartographer2Hatmaker6Physician2Ship Builder0
Noble Household7Philosopher1Herder12Clock Maker1Herbalist3Wet Nurse3Shipcaptain5
Park2Priests3Hunter18Demonologist0Horse Breeder2Servants Dockworker14
Pit Fighting Ring1Printing Press3Jewler15Engineer0Illuminators1Domestic Servant32Entertainers 
Prison0Professor0Laborer190Engraver3Lantern Maker6Gadener9Actor2
Racetrack0Scholar6Lumberjack21Explorer1Leatherworker9Housemaid15Bard1
Slave Market0Scribe3Masons12Falconer2Papermaker4Maidservants32Charioteer0
Stable6Scrivener1Mercers9Geologist1Pawnshop2Man at Arms6Dancer2
Tavern13Tax Collector2Miller29Geomancer0Perfumer1Squire39Docturie1
Theater1Teacher6Miner11Hearthwitch1Plasterrs3Service Gladiator4
Thieves Guild0Monster Salvager3Old-Cloths Sellers10Inventor1Pursemaker5Chef4Jongleur1
Training Hall2  Page18Necromancer0Ranger2Diviner1Minstrel1
Warehouse4  Pigkeeper20Runesmith1Ropemakers2Fortune Teller2Musician2
    Pilgrim7Shaman0Rugmakers2Massues0Playwright1
    Rat Catcher15Slaver1Saddlers4Messenger19Storyteller2
    Salter3Sorcerer0Scabbardmaker6Moneylender2Wrestler2
    Scavenger4Witch/Wizard0Sculptors2Mortician2Writer1
    Shepherd27Merchant Seamstress4    
    Street Seller3Counselor1Silversmith1    
    Street Urchin2Grain Merchant2Surveyor2    
    Town Crier7Hay Merchants3Tanners2    
    Trapper11Matriarch2Toymaker1    
    Watercarrier4Merchant12Vet2    
      Nobles17Wood Carvers2    
      Spice Merchant3Woodsellers1    
      Wine Merchant2Auction House2    

The Streak Ends and Renews

Hello all,

Sorry for the long time no post. My wife took me on a wonderful vacation. While I planned to do a significant amount of DND/GM work while we were gone. The lack of internet on the cruise ship was unhelpful. So the streak ended. And we started again last night.

It had been an exhausting 28 hours of flights and driving so I didn’t have a ton of energy on Sunday night. I did put in about 30 minutes and basecoated using the airbrush the guard units for my dwarf army.

The effect is really subtle using a bronze color. I wanted the guard unit to look completely different from the rest of the army. I will do most of the details in the standard blue with silver weapons. Hopefully, I can have them and another 20 or so done this week.

Is there a day you would like to see more terrain? More tutorials? Let me know. Talk soon.

Battle Report ASOIAF Nights Watch vs Neutral

50 pts. 8×4 Table Here we Stand Night’s Watch has the Throne

Below are the Army Lists

Neutral50Nights Watch
Vargo HoatJon Snow
House Bolton Cutthroats5Veterans of the Watch7
Bloody Murmur Skirmishers6Builder Stone Thrower8
(1) Stormcrow Lieutenant1Sworn Brothers7
Bloody Mummer Zorse Riders6(1) Othell Yarrick1
House Bolton Blackguards6Ranger Vanguards7
(2) Ramsay Snow2Ranger Hunters7
House Bolton Flayed Men8Ghost3
(1) Glory Seeker1Craster4
Hedge Knights7Quorin Halfhand6
Walder Frey4
Roose Bolton4

Below is the initial setup. I am nervous about Jon Snow and Ghost being on an island on their own against Flayed Ones and Zorse Riders. Hopefully, the stone-thrower can damage a few units before it is engaged. I liked Neutral’s chances based on the game mode. I always roll a d10, and this was the one. The cav-heavy list could really cause issues for NW.

Round 1 and 2 were relatively simple. Neutral cav pushed to the flanks and the ranger vanguard, with help from the stone thrower locked in the hedge knights. Round 3 is where it got very interesting.

The ranger vets and ghost one-shotted the Zorse riders, and the flayed ones with a charge reroll failed to get a 2+ on either roll. And the ranger hunters did 7 damage to the cuthroats and eliminated them. At that point, the game was essentially over, but I was truly shocked. The sworn swords were eliminated.

I called the game after round 4; the veterans were able to kill the flayed ones, and the blackguard were also killed. It was an easy victory for The Nights Watch. I was very surprised at the result. The one-shot kill of the zorse riders plus failed charge completely changed the game. Also, 7 damage from ranger hunters on the cutthroats was a very good roll. Plus they routed 2 other models for 9 total wounds to eliminate them.

As far as the game itself, Walder Frey was really good. He was the only reason Neutral had a chance after round 3. It was my first time bringing a stone-thrower which was a complete glass cannon, it did 8 wounds against the blackguard, 3 against the hedge knights and that was it. The only reason it did so well against the blackguard was Yarrick, who was killed by one of the boltons. It was also my first time with Zorse Riders. I was shocked at how easily they left the table, but sometimes that’s how it goes.

This will be my last ASOIAF battle report for awhile. I am going to switch to Flames of War for a few weeks.

Yesterday I lost an Election

11/09/2022

Yesterday I lost an election. I campaigned to be the mayor of my hometown. Literally, everyone told me how great I was, I would do a good job, and they voted for me. I did all the things, door-to-door, radio ads, Facebook ads, and direct mailers, it wasn’t enough.

For a while, I have wanted a hobby page and hobby business. I enjoy tabletop games. I enjoy playing, thinking, and creating. I enjoy painting and studying lore. I do not enjoy gluing models together.

So today, after much deliberation, I am going to start a hobby streak. A real hobby streak. I am relying on this blog to keep me accountable. Pictures of what I accomplished the whole kit and caboodle. I want my armies finished and on the table. I want to solo fight beautiful battles.

What Counts as Hobbying

  • Painting Models
  • Building Models
  • Painting/Building Terrain
  • Playing A Game (hobby’d minis only)
  • Creating Rules
  • Creating Scenarios
  • Creating Campaigns
  • Building Army Lists
  • DND Creating
  • Soccer Officiating

Most of those are obvious. I feel like anytime I am building models or terrain or painting them, it counts as hobbying. When I am playing a game with miniatures that I hobby’d it counts. Aka if I play a General D’Armee or Warhammer. What does not count ASOIAF, X-Wing, Armada, where now hobby work takes place.

If I am creating rules, I am working on a ruleset for General D’Armee to add dragons, per the Temeraire book series. If I am creating unique situations or scenarios for games to add objectives or intrigue. How often in war is the objective to stand on this spot for 5 turns. I love doing this for Warhammer, especially because it adds a lot to the game. Ditto creating a campaign, my little brother and I have a Grecco-Persian war campaign close to ending, and it is time for a new one, probably 100 Years War or crusades. Building army lists is also huge; I like thematic lists. That meets the competitive side but is also thematic. A unit of icefall yetis is not going to visit the tomb kings; I am fine with different armies I just want the lists to be thematic.

One thing I really enjoy is DND. I haven’t had a campaign for a few months, the start of the election cycle, but getting back into a campaign would be exciting. I added these more bookwork things, not for ease of use but on days when my wife and I are traveling, I can still hobby. This goal may change in the future, but I look at our upcoming adventures together, and it seems silly to set myself a goal that I know I will fail at instead of setting myself up to succeed.

The same goes for refereeing soccer. I consider that a hobby of mine I enjoy. I also know I will struggle to find time to hobby and painting when I am at a tournament for 12 hours stuck in a hotel with a roommate. So I am going to consider refereeing a hobby at least for now.