Breaking it up a bit

It's been a while since my last post. This is partly a natural lull after pumping out my Axemaster tournament report, but it's also because I've been in a bit of a hobby slump recently. After 2 tournaments in quick succession (one of which included a mad rush to get my army ready), I now have nothing on my radar until Cancon in January.

I haven't even acknowledged my abject failure in the Tale of Duelling Gamers yet. The challenge finished at the end of September, and I failed to do anything about my quotas for the last 2 months. In August this was because I was completely focused on the Empire Ogres for Rumble, and then in September it was basically because I was burnt out from the previous month. So I only managed to paint Dwarfs for 4 of the 6 allotted months. In this regard, my efforts were a failure. In practical terms however, I did fine. My output for the 6 months was as follows:

• 20 Dwarf Slayers
• 27 Dwarf Quarrellers
• 11 Dwarf Thunderers
• 16 Dwarf Irondrakes
• 16 Dwarf Ironbreakers
• 12 Dwarf Miners
• 1 Dwarf Cannon
• 3 Dwarf characters
• 3 Ogre Leadbelchers
• 4 Ogre Bulls/Swordsmen
• 1 Ogre Ironblaster
• 5 Ogre Sabretusks
• 4 Ogre characters
• 1 Empire Captain to ride a Pegasus

If I managed that level of productivity every 6 months, I think I'd be pretty happy. So really I don't feel like I failed too badly. I just failed to focus, and didn't spread the load as well as I might have...

Anyway, as I continue to recover from my earlier burnout and without a clear goal in sight in terms of an upcoming tournament, my hobby efforts have been pretty confused and random. I've dabbed some paint on a couple of models, but I haven't produced anything even remotely close to a finished product.

Axemaster 2014 – Part 6

This post is a continuation of my account of the recent tournament, Axemaster 2014. You can find the previous part of the report here.

Game 6

Ben Wadsworth, Warriors of Chaos

• Chaos Lord of Tzeentch on Disc of Tzeentch with Talisman of Preservation, Crown of Command, Dragonhelm, Flaming Breath, Soul Feeder, Great Weapon, Shield
• Exalted Hero of Tzeentch BSB on Barded Daemonic Mount with Armour of Destiny, Scaled Skin, Great Weapon
• Chaos Sorcerer (Level 2, Lore of Tzeentch) with Chaos Familiar
• Chaos Sorcerer (Level 1, Lore of Metal) with Dispel Scroll
• 17 Chaos Warriors of Tzeentch with Full Command, Shields, Gleaming Pennant
• Chaos Chariot of Nurgle
• Chaos Chariot of Nurgle
• 5 Chaos Warhounds with Vanguard
• 5 Chaos Warhounds with Vanguard
• Chimera with Flaming Breath, Regenerating Flesh
• Chimera with Flaming Breath, Regenerating Flesh
• Hellcannon
• Giant

Comp Score: 2

After 2 big losses I felt like reality had reasserted itself and my place in the field had been corrected, so I hoped to do a little better in my last game. I've been wanting to play Mr Wadsworth (the man behind Shirts off Warhammer) for a while, and now I had my chance. Unfortunately when I looked at his list, I realised I might have some difficulty getting rid of some of his characters. Ah well, what was the worst that could happen?

Game 6 deployment

Axemaster 2014 – Part 5

This post is a continuation of my account of the recent tournament, Axemaster 2014. You can find the previous part of the report here.

Game 5

Simon Kwok, Empire

• Arch Lector on War Altar with Talisman of Preservation, Charmed Shield, Van Horstmann's Speculum, Great Weapon
• Wizard Lord (Level 4, Lore of Light)
• Captain BSB with Obsidian Lodestone, Full Plate Armour, Enchanted Shield (not really sure for this guy)
• Battle Wizard (Level 1, Lore of Light) with Dispel Scroll
• Battle Wizard (Level 1, Lore of Light)
• Witch Hunter with Brace of Pistols
• 40 Halberdiers with Full Command
• 30 Spearmen with Musician
• 30 Spearmen with Musician
• 10 Archers
• 4 Demigryphs with Standard, Musician
• 4 Demigryphs with Standard, Musician
• Celestial Hurricanum
• Steam Tank

Comp Score: 3

This was not a match-up that my army fancied at all. A double-Banishment "light council" backed by 2 cannons. It was precisely the sort of list that my Griffons wanted nothing to do with. And I couldn't even rush into combat for fear of what the Demigryphs and Steam Tank would do to my units. In conclusion, Simon's list was obviously better constructed than mine. I knew it would be a struggle, so just resolved to have some fun and get it over with...

Deployment. My second Griffon is almost in the picture on the left.

Axemaster 2014 – Part 4

This post is a continuation of my account of the recent tournament, Axemaster 2014. You can find the previous part of the report here.

I spent the start of Day 2 sending SMSes to friends to see if anyone could either assist me or play in my place for that day, as I had basically no voice. Given how noisy the tournament venue was, I was not at all convinced that my opponents would be able to hear me, and I figured this would only get worse with the strain. Unfortunately nobody was available, so I just had to try and tough it out. Hopefully I wouldn't be reduced to expressing my intentions through the power of interpretive dance before the day was out...

Game 4

Aaron Graham, High Elves

• Prince on Star Dragon with Talisman of Preservation, Star Lance, Charmed Shield, Heavy Armour, Lion Cloak
• Noble BSB on Barded Steed with Enchanted Shield, Dawnstone, Sword of Might, Heavy Armour
• Noble on Great Eagle with Heavy Armour, Lion Cloak, Shield, Lance
• Noble on Great Eagle with Heavy Armour, Lion Cloak, Shield, Lance
• Noble on Great Eagle with Heavy Armour, Lion Cloak, Shield, Lance
• 9 Silver Helms with Full Command
• 6 Silver Helms with Musician
• 6 Silver Helms with Musician
• 6 Silver Helms with Musician
• Tiranoc Chariot
• Tiranoc Chariot
• Great Eagle
• Great Eagle
• Frostheart Phoenix
• Frostheart Phoenix

Comp Score: 3 or 4

So coming into this game, I think there were maybe 3 of us all on about the same score at the head of the field. Given my list I figured that wouldn't be me, but you never know. To say that Aaron's list was fast is a bit of an understatement. 8 flying models and the rest of the army had Movement 9. This was going to make it difficult for me to control the terms of the game, but at least he had no magic whatsoever. Maybe I could use that to my advantage.

Deployment.