A loss of momentum

It's hard to believe, but it's been over a week since I last updated the blog. It's funny how just having a few things going on in the real world can interfere with your irregular commitments. March has been a busy month, with every weekend packed with events and my job going through a transitional period. It's left me tired, and even when I have had the time to write something up here, it was hard to summon the motivation.

Part of my problem is the fact that I resolved to basically make March a month of relaxation in terms of painting. I pushed a bit too hard in January and February, and it left me a bit burnt out. I might have been able to force myself to continue at a similar pace, but it was going to be a really hard slog, and there was no guarantee that my motivation would return. I figured the best thing to do was ease up and hope it rejuvenated me a bit. It has also given me the chance to play a bit more of Skyrim (no, I have not finished the main storyline yet), which I pointedly ignored in favour of pressing on with my painting. Being disciplined is well and good (and slightly novel for me), but I think there are limits - especially when it's a hobby you're talking about.

Despite easing off, I have not stopped painting entirely. If nothing else, having a weekly painting night with friends ensures that I get at least a few hours a week set aside specifically for my models. If I only ever paint then my progress is slow, but it's still better than nothing. I have recently finished 11 more Handgunners for my Empire. I only had 10 done, which is slightly silly in an army that's now reached about 7,000 points. 11 is a bizarre number to add, but it happened to be how many I had undercoated and based. Rather than make the task harder by rounding the number out, I took the easy path and just painted the 11.

11 painted Handgunners go onto the "done" pile

For all that I prefer the style of these older Handgunners to the new ones, the single-pose models from the 6th edition starter box are uninspiring to paint. The sculpts feel lazy, and there are places where details merge together, making painting them quite difficult. These guys will hardly be the centrepiece models in my army, but it's still annoying when even trying to paint them simply becomes harder because the quality is just not there in the model.

Anyway, they're done now, and so I have a slightly more respectable number of painted Handgunners. My Crossbowmen recently scored an upgrade to 18, so I am heading in the right direction in terms of missile troops, but there is still a way to go before my painted army feels balanced. I will probably paint a command group for these guys, given a unit of 20+ always looks better with a flag. But I am not rushing to do it - I am not yet ready to try to pressure myself on the painting front. Soon I will need to tackle something larger again, but for now my odds and ends will do just fine.

21 painted Handgunners - currently my full tally

Lores of Magic: Lore of the Great Maw

The Lore of the Great Maw can be found in the 8th edition Ogre Kingdoms army book

The Lore of the Great Maw (or Gut Magic as it was previously called) first appeared in the 6th edition Ogre Kingdoms army book, when Ogres became an army in their own right. Like much of the book, the Lore was fatally flawed. The spells didn't follow the normal conventions of spellcasting, with everything being cast on a 3+ (and becoming harder if the spell had already been cast that turn), but requiring a 7+ to dispel anything in play from a previous turn. However, therein lay the problem - the most important spells (the ones that increased the effectiveness of your units) were Remains in Play, and could be dispelled in your opponent's turn. You could make your unit Stubborn, but by the time your opponent charged them, the spell would be gone. This, coupled with many spells damaging your wizard, miserable spell range and the inability to field a Slaughtermaster in a normal game to compensate, made Gut Magic a very frustrating proposition.

The 6th edition Ogre book was a disappointment, including Gut Magic

However, it is a new day, and the Ogres have a new book. It's no secret (or surprise) that the book is a vast improvement on the old one. Ogre mages can now access Lores of Magic other than their own, so how does the new Lore of the Great Maw stack up? Let's take a look.

Lores of Magic: Da Little Waaagh!

We have already looked at the spells of Da Big Waaagh! so it is now time to consider the other option open to Orc and Goblin players - Da Little Waaagh! Just as Da Big Waaagh! is restricted to Orc Shamans only, this Lore is restricted to Goblin and Night Goblin Shamans. So for people fielding all-Orc or all-Goblin lists the decision is already made for them, but for everyone else the choice is there to be made.

Goblin Shamans are sneaky, and their Lore matches their mentality

What does is do?
The Lore Attribute for Da Little Waaagh! is Sneaky Stealin'. Every time a Little Waaagh! spell gets through the enemy defences (whether they failed to dispel it, could not, or chose not to), you roll a D6. On a 5 or 6 you steal a dice from the opponent's dispel pool and add it to your power pool.

Sneaky Stealin' is interesting, because it encourages the player to cast a wave of smaller spells, rather than gathering all the dice together for a single big attempt. A number of successful castings will make it very hard for your opponent to stop them all, and each time one gets through, the situation can become worse and worse for him as you pilfer bonus dice whilst draining his defences. It may mean Goblin players will throw dice at seemingly unimportant spells, simply on the off chance that the opponent lets them through and runs the risk of losing dispel dice being held for the more important stuff.

The Goblin Signature Spell is Sneaky Stabbin' (not to be mistaken for Sneaky Stealin' as described above - Goblins are very sneaky). The spell is cheap (6+) with no option to boost it, which is unfortunate given its limited range of 12". It grants the target friendly unit the Armour Piercing rule in close combat. Perhaps more significantly however, it also grants them rerolls to hit and wound when they are in an enemy's flank or rear. Whilst that is obviously situational, on a decent combat unit it could be devastating.

As a Signature Spell, Sneaky Stabbin' is rather good. It's dirt cheap to cast (a lesser wizard with nothing better to do could throw a single dice at it), and Armour Piercing is a useful upgrade for a number of the better Orc and Goblin combat units who often fight at Strength 5. That is decent for wounding most targets, however opponents with good armour may still get solid saves against it. The extra hit on armour would be very welcome against units such as Empire and Chaos Knights, with their 1+ saves.

When there is the threat of getting a powerful unit into the enemy's flank, this spell could suddenly become a main focus of the enemy's dispel dice. The potential to have multiple copies of the spell could be very telling in that situation.

Lores of Magic: Da Big Waaagh!

OK, so it's been a while since I reviewed a Lore of Magic. Time to get back on the wagon...

The Orcs and Goblins army book was one of the first to be re-released after the introduction of 8th edition. The greenskins are a popular army, and one of the most important from a GW marketing perspective. As such, they get a lot of love and attention when it comes to things like updating the army list. This helped them jump the queue in terms of some other armies that really needed an update, however hopefully the current book will be around for a while now that it’s here.

Greenskin magic is divided into two Lores – Da Big and Little Waaagh! Da Big Waaagh! is used exclusively by Orc and Savage Orc Shamans, whilst Da Little Waaagh! is restricted to Goblin and Night Goblin Shamans. Today we are going to look at the Lore for the Orcs.

Orcs, orcs, orcs, orcs, orcs...

No half measures

When you are a crazy person, you should think like a crazy person. Act like a crazy person. Plan like a crazy person. I don't know that I am actually crazy, but I do get some incredulous looks when I tell people what I'm working on, and what my goals are. This is fine, but I feel like people have expectations of me now. I have to continue to make outrageous plans, or they will be disappointed in me. Wouldn't want to be boring...

Anyway, I managed to finish my February painting goals, which is exciting. Of course, I cheated and had to use the first day of March to get the job done, but I figure the effort was there and the results were not far behind. Better late than never. So behold, my final 10 Knights Snow Leopard.

My last Knights Snow Leopard, finally painted

The completion of these 10 guys means that my painted unit is now up to 40 models, matching my Knights of the White Wolf. Behold:

The entire legion of my Knights Snow Leopard

A Clash of Chaos

A 4500pt 8th Edition Warhammer Fantasy Battle Report with Warriors of Chaos on both sides - Slaanesh and Tzeentch against Nurgle and Khorne.

Scenario: Watchtower

Slaanesh and Tzeentch: Greg Johnson

Nurgle and Khorne: Owen Top

Owen has been spending a fair bit of time painting Chaos models over the last few months. Some of these models are his, however a large number of them are for our friend Ben, who is far too lazy to ever paint them himself. They have arranged a system where Owen paints Ben's stuff in exchange for piles of even more unpainted plastic. It's all very cunning.

A lot of what Owen has been painting has appeared on his blog over time, however it has never all been pulled together for group photos. I decided it was time to address this, and what better way than in a battle report? I borrowed Ben's models (referred to as the Benite Hordes), and they faced off with Owen's own recently painted legions. One regiment of Khorne worshippers abandoned me immediately before the battle, joining forces with the Khorne units already under Owen's control. Otherwise their forces are a clean split of Khorne and Nurgle (Owen) vs Slaanesh and Tzeentch (Ben). It made for a logical divide.

Given the point of this report was to put as much of the recently painted stuff onto the table as we could, the game size was dictated by the models available. Owen managed to scrape together 4500pts, so I matched that with the Benite Hordes and we were off!

Deep in the Chaos Wastes, where the land is a distorted nightmare and the air tingles with untapped magic, two mighty armies arrived at the same destination. In a barren valley, devoid of life, stood a strange tower. Its sides glowed with powerful energy, giving an eerie light to everything around it. At its top was what appeared to be an altar - one constructed of rock, flesh and bone in equal parts. Only in the Chaos Wastes could one find such a thing, and even there it was an unusual sight. The tower was dangerous, and offered great power to the one who controlled it.

Zaraash K'Yaargh, Lord of Khorne, Scourge of the Weak, Titan of the Battlefield and Collector of Pressed Butterflies, surveyed with field with barely suppressed rage. How dare these insolent fools get in his way? He would kill them all! The Juggernaut beneath him rumbled, hissed and squeaked as it fed off his rage. Zaraash scowled behind his enclosed faceplate. The squeaking noise was unacceptable. It was getting on his nerves, and he worried it undermined his imposing aura. He would have to take it back to his Chaos Dwarf minions to be serviced. As if sensing his displeasure, the great brass beast quieted and became still, although Zaraash could still feel its lust for battle.

At his side stood the hunched form of Cattarh The Bloated. He was a loathesome creature. He had once been a man (at least, Zaraash assumed he had been a man), however his unwholesome worship of Nurgle had changed him into something altogether different. The tattered rags that had once been a hooded robe revealed a twisted mess of flesh and metal. His face was mostly concealed by the hood, however what showed through was scarred and bloated. Cattarh's voice was a ruined mess, and he sounded like he was choking with every word he uttered. He was disgusting, and he made Zaraash angry. But then, a lot of things made Zaraash angry.

"It seems that those who worship the lesser Ruinous Powers share our objective, Lord Zaraash", gurgled Cattarh. Once again, the mere sound of the sorcerer's voice gave Zaraash the urge to hack him down where he stooped. Once more he managed to restrain himself with the knowledge that he needed the foul creature to gain control of the tower. He had neglected to tell Cattarh that he intended to destroy the tower once he was inside, but he would find out soon enough.

"Then we must be certain that we get there first," replied Zaraash. "Prepare your warriors for battle."
 
The Dread Horde of Zaraash k'Yaargh
General: Owen Top

Owen: "I may very rarely play Warhammer, and I may confuse my self about the rules and lose rather more than average, but there is nothing so pleasing to my heart as the sight of two vast and mighty armies locked in mortal combat. Especially if it ends up being a stupidly large game, and I painted all of it. So when the nefarious and manipulative Lord of Change known as 'Hoodling; The Sourge of Kislev' asked me to partake in a large game using all of my chaos stuff, and almost all fo the benite hordes, I was forced to accept.

My current Chaos army is not the most finely tuned instrument since it consists entirerly of cool modelling and painting ideas with no thought at all given to how it plays, so I'm really not sure if it'll work or not. I have sworn might oaths against cheating (my poor grasp on the 8th ed rules meant I took some illegal things last time I fought the Hoodling) and girded my loins against the coming onslaught."

Owen rolled Fleshy Abundance and Cloying Quagmire for his lesser Sorceror, and then got Magnificent Buboes, Plague Squall, Curse of the Leper and Rot, Glorious Rot on his Sorceror Lord. So, a bit of everything.

Cattarh the Bloated leads the Bile Toad Appreciation Society into battle

Lords
CLoK - Chaos Lord of Khorne, Khor'Phaak Zaraash K'Yaargh
A mighty Khor'Phaak (Khorne Lord) and collector of pressed butterflies.
Great weapon; Juggernaut of Khorne; Crown of Command; Dawnstone; The Crimson Armour of Dargan
387 points

SLoN - Sorceror Lord of Nurgle, Cattarh The Bloated
Sorceror Lord of Nurgle and part-time puppy obedience coach.
Level 4 using the Lore of Nurgle Talisman of Preservation; Warrior Familiar
355 points

Heroes
SoN - Chaos Sorcerer of Nurgle, Muccus the Foul
Sorceror of Nurgle and amateur billiards champion of the Chaos Wastes
Level 2 using the Lore of Nurgle Dispel Scroll
    165 points

EHoK - Exalted Hero of Khorne, Charagax Blood-Fist
Khorne hero and seafood salesman
Chaos Runesword; Chaos Armour
    175 points

BSB - Exalted Hero of Nurgle, Shamagoth The Under-The-Weather
Nurgle BSB, lists his hobbies as sneezing, hawking, coughing and spiting.
Army Battle Standard; Banner of Wrath; Great Weapon
208 points

Core
CMoK - 30 Chaos Marauders of Khorne, The Brotherhood of Hackeration
A secretive religious order devoted to hacking things up with rather large axes. Marauder Chieftain; Musician; Standard Bearer; Great Weapons
200 points

CMoN - 30 Chaos Marauders of Nurgle, The Bloated Boyos
A close-harmony male-voice choir, dedicated to singing the praise of Lord Nurgle. Off key.
Marauder Chieftain; Musician; Standard Bearer; Flails
200 points

Dog1 - 5 Chaos Warhounds, A Deluge of Daemonic Doggies
30 points

Dog2 - 5 Chaos Warhounds, A Downpour of Daemonic Doggies
30 points

CWoK1 - 30 Chaos Warriors of Khorne, The Gore Spatterers
They are mean and nasty and don't wash behind their ears.
Champion; Musician; Standard Bearer; Halberds; Shields
570 points

CWoN - 20 Chaos Warriors of Nurgle, The Bile Toad Appreciation Society
On a cheerful road-trip to the next Ms. Leprousy World contest with all their pets along!
Champion; Musician; Standard Bearer; Shields
380 points

CWoK2 - 20 Chaos Warriors of Khorne, The Blood Spillers
Perpetrators of the Great Red Cross Blood Bank Heist of 2011.
Champion; Musician; Standard Bearer; Shields
380 points

MHoK - 5 Marauder Horsemen, The Blood Hooves
Five wildly drunken frat boys out for fun
Flails
105 points

Special
CKoN1 - 10 Chaos Knights of Nurgle, The Slug Society
Mighty and enraged warriors who slurp and slosh thier way to war upon great slugs
Knight Champion; Musician; Standard Bearer
480 points

CKoN2 - 10 Chaos Knights of Nurgle, The Fly Bretheren
Large angry men who ride to war upon mighty flies.
Knight Champion; Musician; Standard Bearer
480 points

Rare
DO - 3 Dragon Ogres, The Sons of Scrofula
Great diseased dragon ogres who like to steal candy from babies
Light Armour; Great Weapons
231 points

War - Chaos Warshrine, The Sinister Shrine of Shor'Schlop
130 points

The Slug Society advances

Total: 4506 points

The Benighted Hordes
General: Greg Johnson

I am the first to admit that this is not the most carefully constructed Warriors of Chaos army you will ever see. Both of us were making an effort to use most of the models we had available, so the list really represents what I could lay my hands on. I chose a decent wizard, an amusingly dangerous lord and a BSB, and then swept through buying the biggest units I could. You will note there are no Marauders in this list - Ben doesn't have any. In this particular case I don't think that matters, but in more general terms it could be a problem for him.

I rolled +1 armour save on my Chosen, which I was reasonably happy with. 3+ armour would give them a much better chance of living long enough to swing those great weapons. I rolled Mystifying Miasma, The Withering, Enfeebling Foe and Okkam's Mindrazor for my Sorcerer Lord, so I was pretty happy there too.

Lords
LoT - Chaos Lord of Tzeentch, Erek the Everchanging
Rides a Disc of Tzeentch. Chaos Armour; Shield; Chaos Daemonsword; Talisman of Protection; Dragonhelm
350 points

SL - Sorcerer Lord, Emund the Elusive
Level 4 Wizard using the Lore of Shadow Chaos Armour; Talisman of Preservation; Sword of Might; Enchanted Shield
350 points

Heroes
BSB - Exalted Hero of Tzeentch, Earnest the Serious
Rides a Barded Chaos Steed Battle Standard; Great Weapon; Chaos Armour; Talisman of Endurance
199 points

Core
Dog - 5 Chaos Warhounds, The Puppies
30 points

CWoS - 38 Chaos Warriors of Slaanesh, Horde of Distraction
Halberd; Chaos Armour; Standard; Musician; Champion
648 points

CWoT - 30 Chaos Warriors of Tzeentch, Guardians of Change
Chaos Armour; Shield; Standard; Musician; Champion
530 points

Special
Chose - 28 Chosen of Chaos Undivided, The Butchers Eternal
Great Weapon; Chaos Armour; Standard; Musician; Champion Rapturous Standard
630 points

CKoT - 9 Chaos Knights of Tzeentch, The Knights of Nie
Barded Chaos Steeds; Ensorcelled Weapons; Chaos Armour; Shield; Standard; Musician; Champion
430 points

CKoS1 - 5 Chaos Knights of Slaanesh, The Armoured Amour
Barded Chaos Steeds; Lance; Chaos Armour; Shield; Standard; Musician; Champion
285 points

CKoS2 - 5 Chaos Knights of Slaanesh, The Tin-Clad Titillators
Barded Chaos Steeds; Lance; Chaos Armour; Shield; Musician
245 points

O1 - 3 Ogres, Mo, Larry and Curly
Heavy Armour
105 points

O2 - 3 Ogres, Beau, Barry and Burly
Heavy Armour
105 points

Rare
DO - 5 Dragon Ogres, The Scaly Menace
Great Weapon; Light Armour
385 points

CS - Chaos Spawn, The Special One
55 points

War - Chaos Warshrine of Tzeentch
150 points

Total: 4497 points

Deployment

The armies face off, with the Benighted Hordes in the north and the Dread Horde of Zaraash k'Yaargh in the south

Slow and steady

Last night I finally managed to complete the 11 Knights Snow Leopard that I've been working on for the last week. I've been painting on every evening except one, and by the time they were done I was really ready to move on. It probably took me around 12 hours of painting to finish the batch, which still doesn't sound as long as it felt.

11 Knights Snow Leopard, done at last

The same group from behind, showing the cloaks

As with the other Knights Snow Leopard, I have held off from painting markings on the cloaks. I may come back and do it later, at the same time as I look at things like freehand detailing on banners. For now I just want them done and to move on. There are still 10 more models to do before the unit is complete, and it's going to be touch-and-go as to whether I will make my February target. One thing that can be said for these painting goals - normally it takes an impending tournament to drive me to sit down and paint on a frequent basis, however the monthly targets seem to be having the same effect.

The final batch

My plan has been to paint more knights in March, however I am starting to wonder if I should break things up a bit first. On the bright side, the remaining knight unit has no gold detailing or cloaks and simpler shields, so they might be a bit faster to get done. I can hope...