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Well, it's been a while! I've been busy with other projects, but now the weather is improving, I really want to get back to my Marines Adamant! With that in mind, I've finally finished a centre piece build for the army, my Logan Grimnar counts as… Warleader Isgrimnur Ironheart As you can see, he's built from Caanok Var, with a multitude of SW bits and a fair bit of scratch built plastic and GS sculpting, not least of which getting a high enough scenic base to match Logan! I'm pretty happy with him though, I feel like he's a good mix of the techy IH Successor and savage/feral Homeworld? The Shield is supposed to be a Chapter Relic, belonging to Elvrit, Iron Hand and first Warlord of the Marines Adamant, hence the shape in his personal sigil - that would become the Chapter badge. I was pleased that Caanok Var's bolter fits! Obviously Logan has the wrist mounted version, but I thought it was an opportunity to give him a more IH servo-arm mounted weapon? Anyway, not dead yet, C+C always welcome! Cheers for looking! Lysimachus

Finished up the diorama, Unexpected Finds, which was painted in about 3 days over six/seven hours. I now know why the really good painters do things in sections, as getting into some of the areas was not easy and I had to do more clean-up than I wished. Still happy with it, especially since it was basically a "free" diorama that I was able to put together with leftover/unused kits that were sitting around my hobby space. Up next for painting is finishing my Votann vow for this this month and then starting on my first Sanctifier kill-team member for the 12MoH campaign (my already finished Interrogator has requisitioned some of the Ecclesiarchy's finest crazies to help out). Hopefully next month I can get a good start on the Nightbringer conversion for modeling, though the beginning of May will have me getting my butt kicked at the Rocky Mountain Open tournament before that.

This kill team will consist of two Deathwatch fire teams. I'm going to limit the number of official Chapters that are represented, however, focusing on more obscure official Chapters and DIY Chapters of my own creation. In all likelihood, I'm going to revert to the original color scheme that we used for the Legio, as seen on this model painted by @Chronophague in 2003: That version of the color scheme featured the black armour, red helmet (you can see it hung on his belt behind the grenades), and red weapons casings that we are familiar with. The left kneepad is white, indicating that this battle-brother belonged to the Light of the Emperor Great Company. At that time, the left shoulder pad field and chest decoration were bone in color. I don't recall exactly why we formally switched the chest decoration to white and the shoulder pad field to red. If you look carefully, you can see that the =][= on the Deathwatch shoulder pad is red. Most of the entries to this contest followed the "bone" theme, though not a few used different colors for the chest decoration and/or left shoulder pad field (typically white, silver, red, or black). A good example of a variant color scheme used in that contest can be seen in the model painted by @disinfect. While the left shoulder pad uses the bone coloring, the chest eagle is painted white; and the model incorporates the black and white checkerboard pattern on the right boot to indicate veteran status. As you can see, we allowed a bit of creativity in color scheme when we first created the Legio; and I think we need to return to that to better support the varying preferences of players. You can see the other images from that contest here (we distinguished between the mod entries and the Frater Domus entries, but all are collected together in that album). So the scheme I'm going to use is: Black armour (duh) Red helmet (duh) with green eyes Red weapons casings (duh) Red left kneepad or decoration upon that left kneepad (for the Blood of the Emperor Great Company) Bone chest decoration Bone left shoulder pad (Legio) field Red =][= on the left shoulder pad (I'm using the Deathwatch pads and the inclusion of the =][= indicates that these Legio members have served with the Inquisition) Silver skull on the left shoulder pad Right shoulder pads (parent Chapters) in a variety of colors, see below Why am I reverting to the "bone" theme? In short, since I'm building this kill team to introduce a group of players who are relatively new to the hobby, I'm not sure if they're familiar with the various Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes. So I want them to be able to describe the models based on the color of their parent Chapter badge. By switching to the "bone" theme, I can include Chapters whose shoulder pads are red. Assuming each member of the squad has a different color for their right shoulder pad, I have blue, red, yellow, orange, purple, green, black, white, silver, and gold. And since my freehand painting skills suck, I'm only using sculpted shoulder pads. At this point, I have identified the colors, icons, and parent Chapters of the first fire team (of the first squad), the icon and shoulder pad color of the rest of the first squad, and icon of the entire second squad. Most are DIY Chapters of my own creation, with only one member of an [obscure] official Chapter in each squad. The planned fire team of the first squad consists of: White fist on blue disc, possibly surrounded by a sunburst (Fists of Purity Chapter, DIY) - Sergeant White hawk head on orange (Nova Hawks Chapter, DIY) - Fighter Bronze bull head on purple (Khalkotauri Chapter, DIY*) - Warrior Black griffon on yellow (Emperor's Knights Chapter, DIY*) - Warrior Gunmetal crossed swords on black (Guardians of the Covenant Chapter, GW) - Warrior White Maltese cross on green (Storm Angels Chapter, DIY*) - Heavy Gunner This leaves me with white, red, gold, and silver for the fields of the remaining members (with icons given contrasting colors). It will be important to distinguish these four shoulder pads from the Chapters that I named for each. The rest of the first squad and the entire second squad consist of: skull (this is the Silver Skulls shoulder pad from the Deathwatch kit) talon (the Brazen Claws shoulder pad from the Deathwatch kit) skull and halo (the Novamarines shoulder pad from the Deathwatch kit) gauntlet (this is one of the original metal Iron Hands shoulder pads) wolf/hound head (the Ragnar Blackmane's Great Company shoulder pad from the Deathwatch kit) starburst (this is one of the original metal veteran shoulder pads) skull and crossbones (this is one of the original metal Death Company shoulder pads) dragon head (this is the Salamanders shoulder pad from the Deathwatch kit) raven/bird (this is the Raven Guard shoulder pad from the Deathwatch kit) lambda (this is one of the original metal devastator squad shoulder pads) fist (this is one of the original Imperial Fists shoulder pads) flames (this is one of the original Legion of the Damned shoulder pads) skull on a Maltese cross (this is one of the plastic Black Templars shoulder pads from the old upgrade sprue) freehand! (I figured I should challenge myself with one of these models) I may decide that some of the second squad members are from obscure official Chapters. Options include: Angels of Fire (flames) - yellow/orange on red Angels Redeemed (I'd have to use the Dark Angels shoulder pad from the Deathwatch kit) - white on red Contenders (fist) - red on silver/light grey Crimson Talons (talon) - red on white Dark Brotherhood (skull on Maltese cross) - red skull and white cross on grey Hawk Lords (raven/bird) - yellow on purple Iron Fists (fist) - gold on blue-silver Knights of the Raven (raven/bird) - black on silver Red Wolves (wolf/hound head) - red on black Shadow Wolves (wolf/hound head) - white on black Subjugators (fist) - black on green Imperial Paladins (skull on a Maltese cross) - white skull on yellow cross on blue If I decide to do this, I'll be limited by the self-imposed requirement for different colors on the shoulder pad fields. I could make the freehand shoulder pad an obscure official Chapter, doing something that I might reasonably hope to render such as: Crimson Guard (crossed red axes on yellow/gold) Dark Hunters (white axe on blue) Emperor's Hawks (white wing on red) Masters of Protelus (blue axe on white) Storm Callers (yellow lightning bolt on black) Storm Giants (red lightning bolt on bone) War bearers (crossed black axes on green) Note that I've ruled out Second Founding Chapters such as the so-called "First Founding" Chapters, Black Templars, Brazen Claws, Crimson Fists, Mortifactors, Nemesis, and Silver Skulls, as well as more well-known Chapters such as the Howling Griffons, Novamarines, and Sons of Medusa. I've also ruled out those Chapters known to have participated in the Abyssal Crusade. There are probably other official Chapters I could choose from, but those named above were found in the Insignium Astartes, Successor Chapters (booklet in the limited edition version of the 7th edition Codex: Space Marines), and How to Paint Space Marines books as well as the Index Astartes article about the Chapters that participated in the Third War for Armageddon. My focus is the first six models (colors and Chapters already decided upon), so the rest of the decisions are academic for now. If/when the time comes, however, I'll consult other sources to find the full array of official Chapters. I'm pretty sure that both Sergeants will end up having a blue shoulder pad, both fighters will end up having an orange shoulder pad, both heavy gunners will end up having a green shoulder pad, etc. I'll probably differentiate by having different shades of the colors - so one of the Sergeants will use a dark blue and the other will use a light blue. Since a single Deathwatch fire team composes a full Space Marine kill team, and since each operative type other than Warrior can only be included once in the kill team (remember - I'm using the 2021 version), this means that I'll effectively have two options for each operative type. Since my Fists of Purity Sergeant has a thunder hammer and bolt pistol, the other Sergeant will have a different weapon combination. Likewise, my Storm Angels Heavy Gunner has an Infernus heavy bolter, so the other Heavy Gunner will have one of the other heavy weapon options. Decisions, decisions... And just to manage expectations, don't expect my finished minis to match the quality of painting seen in either of the Legio mini-me's that are shown at the top of this entry. * It has been a while since I created any DIY Chapter articles, so I hope to develop these three Chapters (Emperor's Knights, Khalkatauri, and Storm Angels) to exercise some creativity. I also plan to update and revise the Fists of Purity article, removing the more egregious of my errors and [hopefully] improving the quality of the article. Each of these will be conducted as separate blogs, though I'll cross-link to them in this blog.

So, the other day I finally got out of a bit of a hobby slump (to be fair to myself, I'd been steadily, but very slowly, painting some Nurgle guys for AoS but mostly/only because I meet up with some friends once every week/fortnight and paint) and felt the urge to do something creative. So I found some styrofoam I had lying around as well as a ship I bought in the local thrift shop a couple of years ago, decided to build a harbour and got to work. I initially just placed the styrofoam sections in different setups to see what might work, then started brainstorming ideas. Once I got started on the "real" work, I was in danger of feeling overwhelmed a couple of times, so I forced myself to just focus on one section at a time, rather than trying to have some grand vision for everything all at once. I'm happy to say that this worked out for me and I managed to get quite a lot done, while still leaving some areas of the terrain set undeveloped. Hopefully some good ideas will materialise soon :)

I am probably no longer in the ideal time to be writing blogs, but this format fascinates me. I would most likely be writing this blog just for myself, but I really enjoy the exercise after reading several blogs on this forum. I have always been fascinated by the narrative aspect of the game, and especially by conversions, which are my favorite part. So I am starting a project log for my The Lost & The Damned army, which I began two months ago. The goal will be to present the conversions, the evolution of the lore, and battle reports. The main inspiration will come from the V3 codex “Eye of Terror”, which featured fascinating renegade and mutant miniatures. The central idea is that each model must be unique, even among the swarming mass of infantry planned. The army’s lore is not yet fixed and will likely be developed in future posts. The short-term goal is to build a Boarding Action force filled with cultists and other Beastmen. In the longer term, the army will be played using the Astra Militarum codex, but I fully intend to add some Chaos Space Marines at the origin of the rebellion (chapter to be determined: Word Bearers, Night Lords) as well as several daemons. For painting, I have stuck to a contrast paint scheme with simple highlights, easy to apply given the number of miniatures planned for a horde-style army. Let’s get to the heart of the matter with the first units I have completed so far. A horde of mutants led by “Nox the Pale-Skinned” Built using bits of all kinds scavenged from my pile of shame, notably ghouls, Beastmen, and poxwalkers. I used a mix of contrast paints to achieve this sickly, pallid skin effect. One of the mutants has a plasma gun grafted in place of an arm, and another wields a flamethrower. A group of cultists led by “Athreus the Visionary” I wanted a more religious style using Necromunda kits, Bretonnian knights, or even old Orks (?) I really enjoyed making the occult banner, and the missile launcher bearer made from a Boy from my childhood gives me immense pleasure.

Kayhrim is a fierce warrior and leader among the Gnostari Dominion's ranks of Einhyr. A member of the Shattered Star Kindred, she takes a personal affront to the loss of any organic Kin life that occurs. Her rage and fury, unusual for an Ironkin, have driven her to thrown herself time and again into desperate last stands and near-hopeless rescue actions. Currently Champion Kayhrim Myrr is leading a unit of Einhyr in Kahl Tybarr Seykyr's Hearthband, under the banner of High Khal Trokk the Denier's Kinhost.

Hi Folks, This CtA25 challenge has been the event that brought me up to putting the last touches of bruches on my Assuryanii. All factions released are represented in a big Ynnari party. I'd still like to increase a little bit this force with a few units such as Dark Reapers or Wraithblades, but it will not be so soon. I have other project so far. It is a big army. And some units deserve maybe a little focus. First come these Corsairs - 3 units of VoidReavers, out of which 2 are kitbashed. Another kit bash is the Autach made out of some BAnshee parts and the Old Dhrazaar Yvraine leads the way. As a GW's junky, I might some day complete the Triumvirat of Ynnead with her lover, and may be with the Dramatis Personnae that helped her: Jain Zaar, Yriel, Eldrad and Lelith. What would be a Saim-Hann army without Windriders? And the venerable WraithLord, my first Eldar mini ever. As a final touch, a farseer with his retinue. Should they be all fitted with Singing spears, this unit could be the ultimate Titanic vehicle hunter... A nice trip. That requires hitting the table top more often. See you folks, and in-between, visit the Galleries!

Well trying to power through the stress of life and issues that come with work and family life, which have kept me away from the hobby for a most of this week. I took time to get some hobbling in… First off finished my Ancient in Terminator Armor. and then finished my Scout Sgt by attaching him to his base I did decal my Reiver Sgt too but did not take pics and I still need to do his back pack. next up I worked on my scouts bases they need the black ring and scouts need the blacks, leather, metallics and grenades done before washing, highlights, decals, weathering and attaching to bases. And these need to be done for April 12 MoH Vow. Along with Celestian Insidiant model. But instead of focusing on that I worked on this as well…. The 1st Company Captain…..still a lot to do but I am very happy with him so far!

I'm a member of Yaktribe because I occasionally mess about with Necromunda and for a long time it was the default organizational tool for that game. Now, I mainly hang out in their hobby boards because I can post about my minis that aren't 40k. They have periodic contests of differing topics and this latest one was Hallowed and Haunted: make something that is sacred, uncanny, or cursed. I had some leftover models and decided to wipe something up- in this case an Ash Wastes scavenger and his hired guns who stumbled on something that they really shouldn't have. Luckily, it is 40k-adjacent so here it is in WIP form.

Hi folks, This is this moment of the year (again) when I make a pit stop and have a look on the past 12 months’ production of mine. And this year has been heavy as a pound of lead (which sounds heavier than a pound of fur although it is still a pound…). The split between the Blogs has left some of my “free speech spaces” less active than others, but it has been globally a very productive year. Let’s see: BLOG 2025 entries AM not-Stygies 17 Closet clean-up 15 Not GSC 3 Bad Mood Rising 7 Pointy and Spiky 34 Clearly the Aeldarii/Drukharii mixed Blog has taken the lead. But it is also true that these forces were the shining stars of my Call-to-Arm Pledges for 1015. CtA2025 alone gathered 15 posts in 2 Blogs. AdMech remained a good leading Blog too, although it may not last for long as I am running out of models now. But some Moiraxes knights came in support and added a series of 5 posts within this total. Another Serie, cross blogged this time, dealt with Imperial agent units; it gathered 6 posts. Grand total has reached 74 entries, while my purpose is 52 (1 per week). Yet it has been a year under the sign of the Eldars. ANd the painting production goes that way too (which is not that illogical as this is mainly a series of Blogs focussing on my painting and modelling back log...) 2026 will probably see a shift in numbers of posts and their repartition. Indeed, Asuryanii are now a dying race (model wise) and I do not really plan adding much more to this army atm. I still have a Wytch unit to be painted and I’d like adding Dark Reapers, but I have no plan so far. Not-GSC should see some work being done as I have gathered 30-40 or so Neophyte bodies waiting to become something. And I still have old spore mines and the Acolytes of the old Patrol box waiting to be painted. The Blogs dealing with Misc. stuff are also good candidates for getting inflated with posts related to my old Epic era ooP SM and Squats. These have been waiting 2 decades for being painted and should receive some attention. And AdMech… Haaa AdMech is now a mature force that will receive spot reinforcements only (a Dunerider maybe?). But the recent addition of Armingers made my think about getting started a playable Mechanium Questoris House. And the teased models for HH are also a very attractive way to keep on with Omnissiah forces out of the strictly 40k box: more Castellaxes could complete my ranks and a Vulturax might be a good Fusilave proxy… I guess I am not yet done with AdMech. Paintjob wise it has been a fruitful year too, although it has started under bad omens: after moving and translating everything from one country to another, I have lost my hobby space and I seriously doubted I could get a productivity as high as in past years. Yet it happened that the weather being quite cool and the daylight long, I could paint every evening outdoors or almost over 4 months. Which boosted the productivity in summer and early autumn to extends I could not have imagined. Most of the work was on pointy ears. But some other stuff found its way to the workbench, with a portion of cyber psychotics. Interestingly, this year has been marked by an increased number of kitbashes and conversions (Rangers, Corsairs, Warlocks or Engineseer to name a few). Here is a pot-pourri: 2oo3 Moiraxes done this year. Allies… even if this is an excuse for fielding models I like out of any kind of necessity. An oddball for the Jokaero challenge. This year's scenery has been quite limited, and this is something I should correct in 2026 as I miss hills and green grassland material. I am a little bit fed up with imperial ruins… CtA25 contribution focussed only on Drukharii and Aeldarii. But (even) more have been painted earlier in the year, inc. a full Harlies’ KT for the “Knives in the Shadows” challenge. AdMechies has been on cruise control, adding characters up to the maximum numbers authorized and completing units ranks. I still have a few Pteraxii and Serberys to be done to get the right numbers in uncomplete units (by uncomplete you should understand units that die too soon to be useful as they miss cannon fodder in their ranks). That’s all folks? Nope as this is only the 40k production. I have done, for TOW, a big amount of models too, with 2 full armies at 2500pts and some Dogs of Wars. But this is not for being disclosed over the B&C… See you in 2026 with more stuff to be painted and more stories to be told. And in the mean time, I wish you a happy new year.

The second operative in my kill team is Veteran Brother Hywel Kaedor of the Griffon Lords Chapter. Both shoulder pads, both arms, and the Stalker pattern boltgun come from the Deathwatch kit. The rest of the bits are bog-standard Tactical/Devastator squad bits. The Griffon Lords Chapter is one of the three Chapters I know of that use the rampant griffon badge, the other two being the Howling Griffons (a favorite of mine) and the Knights of Gryphonne. Both of the other Chapters have some history, with the Howling Griffons having been developed further in the Badab War. Since the Griffon Lords have nothing more than a name and official livery, I chose them. This gives me my "blue" guy. I see a few areas on this model that need to be cleaned up and filed before priming.

So, it's been a few weeks since my last update but I've got a couple of bits I can show off! Firstly, the Marines Adamant vehicles are built: As mentioned previously, the Sicaran is a Gladiator Lancer for rules - I'm assuming the heavy bolters are loaded with Metal Storm ammo to represent the lower strength and higher number of shots of storm bolters/stubber. And the havoc launcher makes for a nice Icarus rocket pod! The Deimos is a standard Annihilator with HK launcher without any need for quibbling over guns, the dozer blade is an old IG one - I just prefer the look of it. You might notice they're both on bases - I'm not a tournament player, and I like how a matching base ties a vehicle in with the rest of an army. Plus that extra mm or 2 of height makes the tank more imposing next to infantry! The Knight oval base is just right for the Sicaran, and the slightly smaller 120x92 is perfect for rhino chassis (with the dozer overhanging a touch, but I think that works?) Anyway, they are both ready for undercoating, although who knows when that will actually happen… I'm UK based, and we're into September, so we may not get a dry day at 18-20 degrees C for another 6 months or so! However, I've got plenty of infantry to paint so that's fine. The second squad of counts-as Grey Hunters has most of their base layers on, so progress is being made. No pics of this, they can wait until they're done! One other thing I'm working on, that I've been meaning to try for years, is scratch building some bits for what will be my 2 Iron Wyrds (Iron Priests). This is what I've got so far: The claw is made from leftover fingers from a Contemptor dread, but the main structure is plasticard tubes and rods. Really pleased with how the various greebling brings the basic shapes together! Anyway, that's it for today, C+C are always welcome!

I think it was maybe June since my last game of heresy, having loved 2.0 naturally I was on the wagon for 3.0, and willing to give it a shot. Some of the rumours were weird, and after receiving and digesting the rulebook (there's a lot to digest) I'm reasonably happy with the game - now it was just time to play it! The game was 1000pts against my regular raven guard opponent to try and get our heads around the new way of playing Alpha Legion: Crusade Detachment Vigilator - exemplar for +1 to stats Centurion - dual claws, vexilla tactical squad, vox, combi bolter - logistical benefit - assault tactical squad, vox, combi bolter Rhino 2x combi bolters Destroyer squad - 5 men, maul on serge, axe, rad grenade launcher Fast thing detachment Land speeder, 2x culverin Support detachment 2x grav rapiers 10 man plasma support squad Raven guard praetor, exemplar Kaedes Nex tactical squad assault squad - master sergeant with dual claws 5 mor deythan w/ combi plasma 8 autocannon heavy support squad I'll add more details soon, but enjoy the pics for now! In all the excitement of snapping pics of my alphas, I forgot to take any of the setup, but the terrain was pretty heavy, 9th ed tourney amounts, plus a little more mechanicus stuff, setup roughly symmetrically with big LOS blocking bits in the middle. For ease of play, we declared all terrain elements to be medium terrain for a 5+ cover, and only blocking LOS for shooting over 3" through terrain. We ended up rolling heart of battle (4 objectives@2each) and short table edges. I lost the roll off so I deployed and went first. First strike is a huge 4pts in this mission so with a rhino and wimpy speeder, i elected to hide everything - the rhino was in cover from the autocannons, but still visible, this protected the destroyers, the mk6 tacs sat on my home objective, rapiers behind cover on the left, and the plasma support in the middle, in line of sight, but, >3" into a ruin so untargetable. The mor deythan deployed 3.1" into the opposite large ruin, autocannons on my left facing the hidden rapiers, with their tac and assault squad hidden behind the large building. My opponent elected not to seize. ALT1 My plasma squad moved forwards into LOS of the assault squad+praetor, and elected to shoot them. The ass squad did their advanced reaction and displaced in the shooting phase, moving out of LOS,, meaning their shots were wasted. The rapiers moved forwards onto an objective, but I'd been too cautios with them and they were 1" short of being able to paste the autocannons. rhino dove through terrain to get out of sight of the autos, while the destroyers advanced into a ruin, 2 bolt pistol guys needing and passing their terrain checks. The land speeder moved left to try and thin out the autocannons, however I frgot about the RG snap shot rule, managing 4 hits, 3 wounds and 1 kill. They electe to return fire, nuking the speeder, though in my turn, so they didnt get first strike. I have a tac squad on one objective, and rapiers on another for 6VP. 6-0 to the alphas. RGT1 The assault marines did a cowardly shuffle onto their second objective, tacs stayed still, and the autocannons shot the rapiers killing both plasforms and 2 crew with no return fire. crew pass morale. tacs on objective, assault on objective for 6VP, 6-6 tie (afterwards I realised that the assaults have vanguard, so should only have scored 1 point for the objective making it 6-5 to the alphas). ALT2 Rhino speeds forwards to block movement/los of the mor deythan, and disgorges tacticals who move 7" onto the ravens objective. The raven guard, fearing an assault, displace back off the objective (big mistake). I then shoot them, killing 2, then do not declare a charge, stealing that objective. The destroyers move forwards and pop a rad missile into the tacs, but he chooses to save on the praetor, who makes his 2+. no other effective shooting. the mk6 tacs run onto the forwards objective, the rapier crew rush and hide at the back objective and out of the game bar scoring. 2x tacs on objectives, rapier crew on objective for 10pts. 16-6 to the alphas. RGT2 ALT3 RGT3

Hello all, So, I've decided to start a new blog for a new project. (My previous army of Celebrants Chapter Space Marines isn't quite finished, as I still have a few squads to complete. They are all WIP, but to be honest I needed a break from painting yellow/orange/red!) So, for the Knives in the Shadows Kill Team Challenge this year I decided to go back to one of my DIY Chapters, the Marines Adamant. I tried a new technique of oil pin washing, and I was happy with the results: Now, while I was working on the above Team, the new Space Wolves stuff was being previewed and then released. This has inspired me to do a few more bits to build into a small Marines Adamant force. As well as being IH Successors, with all the bionic goodness that entails, the Marines Adamant are also based on and recruit from a Feral World, resulting in a quite savage and superstitious attitude, meaning that the SW bits like charms/teeth/pelts would all be appropriate to feature on my minis (and hence the blog name!) Also as IH Successors, much of the Chapter's structure is based on the characterful and awesome divergences from the Codex described in the old Iron Hands Index Astartes article (IMHO, these divergences were always well represented by the Wolves rules): Independent Households akin to the Great Company structure. Veteran squad leaders in TDA (unfortunately, no longer possible rules-wise) A focus on reliable, adaptable infantry units on foot (like GH) Obviously, any of the really wolfy units are out, although I did think about using a box of Ruststalkers to build some sort of skirmish servitors to count-as Fenrisian Wolves? Anyway, I've started by building a second squad and a character to lead them. WIP pics of these will be incoming soon!

Greetings Fraters, this is a different sort of update from me - it’s an update of, well, very little or no progress. Basically, I’ve struggled with my motivation to paint over the last month-to-six weeks. There are a few reasons for this; the biggest is that we had a bereavement in the family a couple of months ago. We lost a very close family member following a long and determined fight against cancer; so it was a loss that was expected, but nonetheless difficult. Honestly, if anyone has been through seeing a loved one taken by that illness, you’ll agree with me when I say **** cancer. This loss has affected each of my family in different ways - for me, it crept up on me really, and didn’t ’hit’ me straight away. It seemed to slowly settle on me like a fog, a miasma that brought me down and kind of robbed me of any sense of joy in the things I normally enjoy doing - like painting miniatures. While going through this, I haven’t beat myself up over not painting, or developed any anxiety over letting my painting ‘schedule’ slip away. In fact, I’ve just gone with it. I’ve not beat myself up because up until this, I’ve had pretty much 6 years of almost continuous hobbying, including painting on average an army a year (!) as well as terrain pieces and Kill Teams. If I’m not painting now, then everything I’ve got will still be there when my hobby motivation fully returns. So for the last month or so, the current batch of Marines I’ve been painting has been sat on my desk, pretty much like this: And honestly, I’ve not worried about it much at all. However, over the last week, my motivation has slowly started coming back - but it’s not helped by the fact that I now have to block in metallics, which I really find tedious Still, I’ll chip away, and eventually these will get done. And to help me push through one of my least favourite parts of doing these, I’ve been starting to get a hankering for a new army project - part of me wants to go straight on to it, but I’m going to do my best to stay focussed and get these Marines done. But that next project never seems far from my mind at the moment…

First off....Getting old sucks. I had plans to paint models this weekend and well while watching the kids Saturday as wife was having a much needed pamper day, we started playing sports in the backyard. Later that day my right shoulder is killing me, not just the back shoulder but the front, top, and down the arm. Good ole shoulder tendonitis flare up. but this time it was is bad. Balms, OTC meds, and rest all not helping. I had to order a brace of Amazon to help with pain Saturday night. One I got the brace and put it on it relieved the pain, but I was already feeling nauseous from the pain and hobby time was a moot point. I did organize my part bins for my Adepta Sororitas and switched my large storage bin to the base toppers, so I did accomplish something... Good new is brace is helping but it could be up to 6 weeks for tendonitis to go away, hopefully it is just a flare up. I will getting bcak to work on models today....after work

Hello all. I decided to start another blog, this time to chart out my progress for stuff that isn't currently my Night Lords or Votann. Since I have quite a few other armies/projects, I figure that rather than create new blogs for all of them I'll consolidate them into one. I will still have my various threads for the complete minis (Word Bearers, Necrons, Primaris), but since those threads are all typically about complete models/fluff, this will be where my weird ideas come to bloom. At the moment, I'm working on painting Votann, so everything else is on hold, though I do have some projects in various stages. Primed, ready for paint (pics before the priming): 4 Victrix Guard for the Riven I had previously purchased 6 extra Victrix Guard that came with Calgar- originally they were going to be used as the paired bodyguards from 9th edition, but in 10th I had the extra six set up as a Bladeguard squad. With the new datasheet however, I decided that I would just go ahead and make two full six-man squads, so needed to grab an extra two OG Victrix, and a Champion and Ancient. So there they are, and they'll get painted up shortly I have no doubt, as I will need a break from painting a crap-ton of Votann. Purchased, not built: For the Ebon Word (Word Bearers), I have recently grabbed ten MK IV tactical marines and a set of 10 HH lascannons to convert into a five-man Legionaries squad, armed with various pistols/melee weapons from a previous HH assault squad purchase and a single lascannon, and a set of Havocs armed with lascannon. In addition, I snagged two Saturninie Terminators to make into 40k Obiliterators, as they have the same base size and general visual profile as the 40k models. My Ebon Word are mostly HH models with very few "chaosy" bits, as in general they don't believe in accepting minor gifts of the Gods and dedicate all of their ambition on fully ascending to daemon-hood. So my Obiliterators will be the Saturnine termies, as they are large dudes with massive guns, which sounds like an Obliterator to me. For Necromunda I have another set of AoS Sylvaneth to make into Necromunda Spyrers, the Twistweald box. My theme is the Silicon Life creepy enemies from the manga BLAME!, so the woody bits have all their leaves pruned off into spikes and are painted like bio-organic armor and they use weapons converted from Necron bits. You can see the first set I did here, but this new set will have some different painting for the weaponry/accents, as it will be a gift for my gaming buddy so that he has a set of nasty Spyrers to use for Necromunda. In the planning stage/pre-purchase: My Necrons need a new Nightbringer, as the old one (see above) I have is too small for current standards in both base size and height. For context, I don't particularly like the human-shaped C'tan- the models are nice, but I prefer models that are more...cosmic horror or just plan weird. So AoS has provided a number of my C'tan conversions as the Nighthaunt line is especially good for weird models. I wasn't able to find anything there really good for the new Nightbringer that had the impressive size that the new model has, so instead I will be converting the Purple Sun of Shyish from the Malign Sorceries box. I've been kicking around using the model for a while now, but it is rather large and I didn't have anything to use it for until GW shot the Nightbringer with the Enlargo-ray. I searched around Etsy to find some suitable necron-y bits to stick into the purple ball, and happened upon these D&D puzzle bits. I guess you are supposed to have your party fiddle around with all the pieces until they make the pyramid shape. Instead, I will be shaving down some of the purple ball's points and sticking the puzzle bits onto it- they will be painted to look like blackstone that is/was containing the C'tan. That's what's on my table so far. I will try to update this with my work as I go on, though I am pretty terrible with in-progress pics and so will most likely just wind up posting the build models. Anyway, thanks for looking!

I've had a box of blood angels tactical marines that I have been painting up for a while now. This is the 10th and last one all done (finally!!) I've tried to go for an old but well maintained look, painting the chest decoration and other accessories in a weathered brass sort of style. I'm not a big fan of gems on armour so I painted these as brass aswell as I like the idea of decoration but not done in expensive or valuable materials as whats the point if its getting shot at!? I would like to add some light wear and tear but dont have the guts right now!!

Hello all, A quick update, more just to show that this project is still alive than anything... I wanted some heavy weapons troopers. Desolation Marines seemed like a good fit, or Devastators if points are tight, or maybe even Long Fangs (if the field manual ever actually has points for them). However, like most people with a modicum of taste, I don't like the Desolator minis. On the other hand, I love the HH missile launchers, and especially the Proteus II pattern underslung variety. So, after buying some Infernus Marines for cheap bodies, and a sprue of HH heavy weapons, this is what I came up with: It was surprisingly easy to do, just needed a narrow strip of thin plasticard to make a vambrace connector. The backpacks are from Dragoon Gaming on Ebay (very nice prints too) But other than that, I had another little project I was inspired to work on by the current Legio competition. I didn't want to do all 3 minis, but I did think it might be fun to do a mini-me! Brother Librarian Lysimachus, of the Emperor's Blade Chapter Obviously, it had to be a Librarian, but I felt that the official minis didn't really have a lot of bare armour to show off the Legio scheme and honours. So a conversion it would have to be! His body is a Sternguard with bits added from the Phobos Librarian, as well as a few of the older Libby plastic kits. I even got one of those Green Stuff tube rollers for the chest cables - I should have bought one years ago, I can see it being very useful for all sorts of things! Anyway, I'm still alive, I've even done a little bit of painting (though not enough to be worth showing off). More later, thanks for looking!

So what I wanna say. I need terrain. Somehow I'd overlooked this fact when painting my little dudes and murderous lizards. I have boarding action set, yeap. But. BUT! Baneblade shooting Carnifex on other side of little wall is surreal. Also test game shows that even mostly infantry armies couldn't fight properly on such table. Now I need to build( I think it's preferable option) or buy( even gakky terrain set cost fortune for what you get, not speaking of GW's). Big plus of former that I can build different kind of terrain and not only ruins and mechanicus who-know-what. So today I started build my first ruin and iirc first terrain piece. I use foamed PVC since it's cheap and easy to work. Here is inner walls. I add another layer outside. And it's become bulkier and actually start looks like damaged walls. So guys any suggestions for terrain to build?

So over the weekend I got in a game of Combat patrol with a new hobbyist. He was looking to get some experience in the game via CP and I was more than happy to help. I managed to gather up 6 CPs, 3 nids, 3 marines and the IK one. I’m debating doing up two more armigars in some freeblade colours to specifically use in CP. We won’t talk about how many knight frames I have in storage still…. Anyway he was using Amonhotekh’s Guard (Necrons), I let him pick his destroyer. To which he selected The Vardesghast Swarm (nids). I had to keep the datasheets up to hopefully not upscale the Pychophage since its CP stats are way different from the normal game. Table was a smallish 3'x4' setup with four objectives (cross formation), plenty of ruins and some central cover. I took Alpha Xenoform for secondary and Psychostic Veil enhancement, he took the Treasure of Aeons for secondary and Protocol of Resonant Focus enhancement. Didn’t know the CP missions so just had it that you scored 5 VP for holding an objective, starting Turn 2, since that is the norm for the base game. I’ll look into seeing if there are any CP missions and gather what I have from the magazine for a little more spice later. For this time we just kept it simple. It was also my opponent’s third ever game so didn’t want to overload him. Positioning wise I had the leapers up near one middle objectives, pychophage and prime set up to got after the other one, barbguants in a ruin next to my home objective and the termaguants were behind the leapers. He had his warriors with overlord on his home objective, the doomstalker in a tall ruin in one corner, scarabs on a flank and the destroyers next to his warriors. I got first turn and ran him turn the phases as I did them just in case. Prime and the psychophage did most of the work. Giants just took frie from the doomstlker for all but one turn when he focused on the pychophage. I held most of the objectives for the game as he was not aggressive enough with the destroyers. They really only got into combat at turn 3 when he took out the big bug with them. Now I’ll explain my teaching method. I do give an after action report telling my opponent what was wrong after the game is done, but during the Movement and target selections I keep my mouth shut. Let them do what they think is right cause I don’t want to be running their army. So that what he did makes some sense. Since he had fought grey knights and eldar prior they shot the destroyers out quickly so he was gun shy with them. He had chances to get his secondary if he had picked the other middle objective instead of the one he did or at least had a better chance had he focused his warriors/destroyers on the other. We did go a full five turns but it was pretty one sided on the score. He did manage to kill the leapers, prime and psyhophage, but was left with just the doomstalker and overlord. We swapped board sides and he picked Mordekai’s Judgement as his opponent since Dark Angels is a force he is thinking of starting up. That game was short as while he got first turn, his only target with the doomstalker, placed over the home objective, was the gravis captain and he tanked the shot like a pro. By the charge phase of my second turn I had wiped the destroyers via bolter and plasma fire and most of the warriors to bolter rounds. Which was scary even to me. The main issue was once again him not moving the destroyers well enough. They moved down the middle at the start, which allowed me to drop one in regular shooting then he moved them into cover but away from an easy charge and I had a really good overwatch roll (five hits with the hellblasters) to drop another. Outside of the good overwatch, those destroyers would have blendered either the hellblasters or intercessors that were grouped there. Not sure if the overlord would have faired against the bladeguard/intercessor combo I had on that flank. I had to abandon my home objective cause the doomstalker would have wiped the unit holding it with a decent shooting phase. There was only one objective safe from it’s gaze so would have been a challenge had his dice just not crapped out. I’ll try and do more detailed reports in the future. Memory gets fuzzier quicker these days and I want them to be accurate. Included for your viewing pleasure are three of the marine CPs that I got models for. I forgot to get pictures of the tyranid/knight ones this time, but will do my best to get some later. Strike Force Octavius (Dark Hunter edition) Eye of Ultramar (Bladeguard - Crimson Jackals, Reivers - Moltifactors) Mordekai’s Judgement (Gravis Caption - Brazen Skulls, Bladeguard - Crimson Jackels, Intercessors/Hellblasters - Ultramarines)

Hi Folks, As 2025 comes to its end and after a year spent painting at a slower rhythm my 40k models while alternating with WFB/TOW models, it is time to set list of what remain to be done before getting my backlog dry. The previous years have been quite productive, meaning that many stuff to be painted has been done already and that what remain is less than what used to be done. In fact I may even short list now: - 1 Night Lord Nemesis Claw - 12 Spore mines - 5 GSC Acolyte Hybrids - 10 Dark Eldar Wytches - 3 Serberys riders - 5 Pteraxii - 2 Ironstriders - 40 or some GSC Neophyte hybrids to be kit bashed as a home brew AM regiment - A lot of Epic sized Squats infantry and one Colossus - A lot of epic sized SM with one ooP plastic Warlord Titan - Bucket loads of bits out of which some might be used for custom scenery - 2 kit bashed vehicles, one as a proxy Carnaudon and one as an “artificer” Land Raider, that deserve further plasticard work Should I stop any further purchase, I will be in position to potentially get all of that done by end of 2026. Of course, I might still commit some spot expenses such as long time planned Dark Reaper squad for my Crafworlders or any extra Necromunda models to complete my collection of iddled models to be used as a custom Inquisitor Retinue. A little bit more Scenery is also plausible, with may be MtO Fragdrill or an Aegis Defense Line. But this is on the hypothetical side of the story. Should the year be organized in more details, I would say that the following is likely to happen: 1. I was not planning any participation to the specific 12MoH subchallenge proposed as a campaign around a KT. But as I have one in the back log pile waiting to be done, why not give it a try?... * COMING SOON * The Campaign - The Bolter and Chainsword 2. Kit bashed vehicles could be my Plodding along pledge… 3. … as well as any Epic army paint job btw. I have so many of these... 4. As I do not play GSC, kitbashing the 40+ minis planned for my AM regiment is a good top list project 5. But getting the Drukhari completed can be a fast win too… 6. My AdMech is now in a low demand regime (as I have lots of models already painted and available) and as these new models can be spot/supernumerous jobs, to be done just to have a fresh air inbreath/changing color palette or growing up the numbers a low speed cruise control. So not that critical in terms of priorities. So What? January will tell. I wish you all the best for these seasons’ greetings and for the coming year 2026.

The Clan Council The Clan Council meets in a well protected chamber deep beneath the Marines Adamant Fortress Monastery on Halstarrig's primary moon. A great circular amphitheatre divided into ten tiered sectors, one for each of the mighty Clan Households, leads down to a hub-like central platform where a speaker can be heard by all. The Council may only meet when at least four of the Households are present, and any decisions made there that will affect the entire Chapter must be ratified within a solar year by at least two more Households to create a majority. The hall is large enough that several hundred Astartes may gather, but most can only be silent observers, with only a few given permission to speak. Each Household present is allowed five ‘seats’ at the Council. Most commonly three of these are taken by the Warleader himself, the Household's Forgelord and its most senior Flesh Wyrd. The other two representatives are typically chosen by the Warleader from amongst his Wyrds and Hearthguard lieutenants, depending on the matter being discussed. The Spirit Wyrds act as impartial arbiters, allowed to speak and question as they see fit, and these shamans are the only ones who can move freely between the sectors of the ten Households. A fairly quick update today. I needed a second Iron Priest for my list, and I had built a second Servo-Arm for the tutorial so I just needed a body to convert into a tech-y type! After looking through my bitz box, I found I had a Terminator left over from Leviathan! I really like the idea of Techmarines in TDA, they already have a 2+ save and it just seems appropriate (especially in an IH Successor Chapter). Hence, this is not Indomitus pattern TDA, it's Un-domitus pattern Artificer Armour! The axe is from another mini that I didn't end up using but works well enough as a counts-as hammer, and the gun is an archeotech (helfrost) pistol. I'm really happy with the Servo-Arm jackhammer/breaker, it's just made from the same plasticard sheet/rods/x-sections that I used before, though I may need to add some pics of this to the tutorial? Other than that, I just needed a few bits that were going spare from the new Caanok Var mini that arrived today! (What could I want that mini for? Who could that represent in a counts-as SW force? Find out in the next update!) Anyway, cheers for looking!

KY'VASH RECON CADRE HAMMERHEAD & SKYRAY GUNSHIPS TX7 'Hammerhead' & TX78 'Skyray' Gunships While the propaganda arms of both the Imperium of Man and T'au Empire focus largely on the ever-expanding Battlesuit variants, in many theatres the core of T'au armour is instead made up of Devilfish-hulled hover-tanks such as the Hammerhead and Skyray, the former a dedicated tank-hunter, the latter a more general-purpose artillery platform. Marked with the same camo pattern as the rest of the Recon Cadre, the armoured vehicles of Ky'Vash are primarily ambush predators, hull-down and electronically baffled from auspex. Fiendishly effective main weapons are supported by a series of anti-infantry weapons driven by integrated drone systems, or manually operated by the secondary pilot. The minor technological limitations of the Sept have done little to reduce the combat effectiveness of these platforms, which has earned them a fearsome reputation among their foes within the volume. I've actually already painted a Hammerhead for this army, but these two are new! Well... Kinda new. Picked up assembled and base coated, these second-hand hulls needed quite a bit of work to get them ready, but the end result is adequate, I think, even if I do still need to futz around with the drones, all four of which were snapped apart when I got them. Also, I wasn't able to magnetise them the same way my other tanks have been, but that's OK! Because they were less than half the cost of getting the tanks otherwise. One does what one can. Now that I've finished with my Call to Arms for 2025 - more on that latter - I'm getting back into both painting things other than space marines AND updating my blog! Yay! Watch this space.

So the subject of this first blog post is gonna be rather innocuous, I've had kitbash fellblade with custom bits from blood and Skulls industry for a few years now. I had used the original sponson with a set of twin linked lascannons from Blood and Skulls more or less jammed in to count as the Quad linked lascannons. But not so long ago (or at least it felt that way, it's been a year at least!) I decided to retrofit the sponson with something that looked a bit more space marine. I like the way they look, but the back of them is rather plain as I had plans on kitbashing in some lascannon batteries from a storm talon. While I did find the bits, I also found out that they wouldn't work due to size and shape concerns. That's why today I decided it was time to 3d model some up. It started with a drawing, most people would use a proper CAD program of some kind, I've got access to plotter software. So step one is a 2d layout. A couple steps on conversion later, I turned it into an SVG, then imported into Blender. and from blender finally into Photon Workshop So you might see there's a minor aspect difference between the two 3d files, it's because I didn't actually measure the space for the ammo mount at first (I know, I know, measure twice cut once) but as this was a kinda slipshod afternoon faff about, I'm not too worried because it turned out that with a tiny bit of Y axis crunching I can now fit two plates per ammo mount, which kinda makes sense for a quad lascannon. It'll still be a bit before I can get around to printing, painting and glueing them up, since my print room is off limits right now due to kitten shenanigans, but hey, at least I got my next blog post planned out!

So am I back from Indiana. I have to head back to move In-Laws into a Retirement Center, in a few weeks. And of course everything goes sideways at work moment I get back. So hobby time has been non existence. Silver Lining is LGS not get Saturnine until Monday, so I can get everything I need to do first i.e. my XIXth Legion and Exorcists Call to Arms Vows, that I have not started. And won't have time this weekend. I did start on building one of My XIVth Legion Commanders, not sure what command model he will represent.... cape and head are separate for ease of painting. Still more clean up, pinning, and getting his 40mm base ready

The Flesh Wyrds of the Marines Adamant are skilled apothecaries and genewrights. Given the independent nature of the Households - each one responsible for its own recruitment and implantation procedures - these masters of Astartes biology are vital to the continued existence of the Clan Companies, and of the Chapter as a whole. As such they are highly respected, a key part of each Warleader's command headquarters. Usually at least one of the Flesh Wyrds from each Company will have a seat when the Clan Council meets. Furthermore, considering the Households’ disinterest in the teachings of the Adeptus Ministorum, or even the Reclusiarchy, it is perhaps not surprising that these Wyrds have become the carers of not only the battle brothers’ flesh but also of the spirit within. It is they who assist the Chapter's brethren to control their disgust at the weakness of others’ mortal forms, directing their spite away from their squadmates and towards the enemies of Humanity. As such, the Flesh Wyrds are typically found in the forefront of the Marines Adamant battle lines, both to protect the Chapter's genetic legacy and to inspire their kin to greater acts of hatred and fury. Ok, although I’d hoped to get started on undercoating/painting the previous units, I haven't had a chance to get stuff out. So, for now, here is another update with a new character build. A Flesh Wyrd, which as you can probably guess is a counts-as Wolf Priest. However, while the WPs are more like Chaplains that also handle the role of Apothecary, a Flesh Wyrd is at the opposite end of the spectrum, an Apothecary that also looks after morale. Hence the choice of bits: Its mostly built from an Assault Intercessor, with the torso front from the Repulsor crewman to show the link to the AdMech. The power hammer obviously represents a Wolf Priest's Crozius without showing the religious aspects. The rest is largely Apothecary pieces leftover from another project, with a narthecium created from chopped up bits and GS:

The Spirit Wyrds, colloquially known by many of the Marines Adamant Clans as ‘Storm Walkers’ or ‘Speakers of the Mists’, form the Chapter's Librarius. As such, they are powerful psykers, attuned to the mysteries of the Empyrean and the ways of the countless vaettir of Halstarrig. The Storm Walkers usually dwell in voluntary isolation from the rest of their brethren on Halstarrig's second moon, and are not technically considered as part of the Chapter's command structure, each Wyrd instead free to choose his own path or task as the spirits reveal it to him. Most commonly these seers act as advisors to the ten Warleaders and observers for the Clan Council. Though some Household commanders might not always wish to have a Speaker decide to join their force, it would be a very rare thing - a very inauspicious thing - to refuse their presence. So, as mentioned, a character! I got a Tigurius mini for a tenner (very happy with that!) and I knew immediately that I wanted to include it as part of this force as a counts-as Njal to lead a squad of Grey Hunters. Spirit Wyrds are very shamanistic in their understanding of the Warp, so I wanted to convert him to highlight that slightly feral feel. Obviously the Ultramarine badges needed to go, and I added some GS fur and a rune-stone with a tribal glyph picturing the warp! I also thought his staff would be a good opportunity to change his outline. I thought a twisted wood ‘wizard's staff’ might be a nice option, not usually seen on Librarians, so I took a few lengths of different thicknesses of wire and twisted them together. Once I had the shape I wanted, I coated the frame in several layers of liquid GS to get the effect of a branch. An end cap of regular GS was fairly easy to add. I thought the skull - marked with an ‘X’ - might be a relic of the Chapter Librarius, perhaps the remains of an IH Librarian who was one of the original members of the Marines Adamant Founding cadre? The antlers must be an addition from one of Halstarrig's native fauna! The hand needed a bit of sculpting, so I covered up any ugly ‘sausage fingers’ with a purity seal and an added totemic feather. I'm not sure about psychic effects on a mini, but I was considering doing some wisps of ethereal mist curling up and out from where his staff is touching the ground, maybe even adding some spectral faces/figures if I can get hold of any Nighthaunt Spirit Hosts bits? Not 100%, though… anyone got any thoughts on that?

The past four months have been intense, but my Lost & The Damned force is finally ready just in time for its first event. On May 2nd and 3rd, I’ll be taking part in a Boarding Action event—the very reason this army project was started in the first place. I’ll be bringing this “Underdeck Uprising” force under the Chaos Space Marines banner, fielding a solid 56 miniatures in a 500-point format. Once the event is over, the plan is to shift back toward an Astra Militarum army and explore proxy options for the purely Chaos Space Marine units. For now, here’s a look at all the units I’ve completed over the past few months, along with what’s coming next. Let’s start with the Dark Commune. There will be a few unconverted units in this project log, but they’re models I consider iconic and essential to the DNA of a mad, mutant-infested force. I absolutely love the aesthetic of this unit and the distinct personality of each member. I’m thinking of reusing them later on as a Cadian or Krieg command squad, even if the bases aren’t quite right. When they stand at the center of a horde of cultists, they truly radiate a sinister, malevolent presence. Next up, I’ve converted 10 additional cultists, led by Zedd the Deviant. Once again, I really pushed for variety in shapes and silhouettes, with some ridiculously small mutants alongside towering brutes wielding oversized, improvised weapons. This brings my total up to 30 cultists—doubling as Cadians or Krieg depending on how I choose to field them. I didn’t modify the Fellgor Beastmen models at all—I think they’re just perfect as they are. They fit seamlessly into my army’s aesthetic, with their twisted mutant faces and imposing physiques. The real challenge with them is figuring out how to field them within an Astra Militarum force. With their 32mm bases and close-combat-focused profiles, there isn’t really a datasheet that suits them properly. I’m hoping that in more narrative games, opponents will be open to letting me run them as allied units. When I used to read old Chaos Space Marine codexes, I was always fascinated by the idea of Word Bearer demagogues—figures capable of single-handedly igniting full-scale uprisings and spreading corruption across entire Imperial worlds. So here is Seraphus, a Word Bearers Dark Apostle who alone has rallied this army… and whatever comes next. As for how to field him in an Astra Militarum force, I honestly have no clear answer. I might just use him as a purely decorative piece, perched atop a tower, or maybe magnetize the turret of my future Leman Russ tanks so he can stand on top of them. That’s it for the current state of my force. I’ll probably make another blog entry soon to cover their first clashes in this weekend’s Boarding Action campaign. As for what’s next, I’m planning to take a short break—painting 76 infantry models has definitely taken its toll. I’ll be switching back to my main project: a fully converted 4,000-point “haunted” Chaos Space Marines army. I might even start a dedicated blog for that one as well. When I return to this force, the next additions will likely be a Leman Russ, five Rough Riders, and a Sentinel. That should give me a solid core to start playing Warhammer 40,000 games at the 500–1000 point level.

Hi folks, After compiling a series of mugshots (or almost) of some of the terrain I own vs. the new teased terrain area templates for 11th, this whole stuff made me dive again into some of the previous iterations of terrain rules in 40k. I am playing since 1st Ed. Yet I do not own every rule or campaign book and, in the past decade, my gaming rate decreased significantly. What I can share is basically a partial and naturally biased view of my past experiences (or what I pretend remembering about these). My main regret in all that story is that I’ve lost the cityfight codex supplement I had; it used to be my favorite setting and I just do not know where it is; and even if I still have it somewhere... Anyway, let’s see how stuff went selecting some specific books of my discontinued collection. (and keeping in mind that in all cases these terrain setting were and always have been recommendations... although a recommendation printed as an introdcutory game in a big rule book has an impact on the way one may percieve the game that a nice chat/opinion sharing will never really reach at first try) A. 3rd Ed. Let’s start with terrain in 3rd edition. 3 methods for terrain setting were proposed as a guideline in the big rule book: 1. Each player set some terrain on one half of the table. Then there is a dice thrown to determine who will select his deployment zone. Pros: it forces each player to balance the arrangement as he is not sure of the table side he will have for deployment or for crossing. Cons: it is sometimes complicated as one may look to what the other is doing and as such the terrains sets are not really installed in an independent manner; a variant emerged with a screen/curtain blocking views so that the setting is made in blind mode… 2. Historical setting: set as described in a scenario 3. Random terrain density setting: 1D3 element per quadrant (60 x 60 cm (or 24” x 24”) squares) – on average 8 terrain elements per table for a typical game at the time. The introductory game in the first pages of the rule book depicted something that was very close to what was done in 1st and 2nd Ed. With few elements of terrain (today this example would be a Combat Patrol format). Where grognards came from B. 4th Ed. Cityfight (or similar) The book I’ve lost. From Andy Chamber. My fav book ever in the 40k basic rule sets and extensions, excluding FW books. I wa susing xeroxed rules at the time so neither do I have the rule book left. This is truly when (as far as I remember) the terrain areas were introduced for first time. So, these are really not new things at all. Believe me: small white lines define footprints - high zoom required... The terrain placement was from light to heavy coverage and defined as alpha, gamma and omega levels. We have mostly Omega level in mind with lots of buildings and terrains as this is the typical depiction in GW illustrations. Alpha was patrol type around a fistful of ruins while gamma was an intermediate amount. Probably close to the WTC setting of 10th. Looks familiar if you read too much WD or spend too much time on WarCom C. 6th Ed. A big jump forward (or leap of giant). Yet main methods used for terrain setting remained roughly the same as for 3rd. The terrain density limit received a nick name (a.k.a. “terrain density limit” – how innovative…). Yet in that case the players install one element in each quadrant one after the other up to reach that said limit. Then they jump to the next one. A hue is introduced imposing a minimum distance of 3” between two terrain elements vs. the method from previous edition I have commented above. A player can decide to stop the installation in a quadrant before reaching the determined limit for said quadrant; yet this does not prevent the other player to keep on placing terrain there up to the dice determined limit. Once done, there is a roll to select the side for deployment. Very similar indeed? So, we have a period of more than a decade with no real terrain rule modifications as far as setting is concerned in the big rule book. D. 7th Ed This edition broke the dynamic as it proposed something that can be summarized as properly NO GUIDELINE as far as battlefield setting is concerned. Do as you like. Period. But in the meantime, it introduced later in the cycle the extensions for Planetary Onslaught that covered in a single tome most of the previously known as Planet fall, City of death, Spearhead… alternative rules for setting. But these were neither new as such (some of these at least) extensions already existed from 4th Ed era. E. 8th Ed This time the terrain area is recommended to be 72” x 48” but keeps the 24” x 24” quadrant. Recommendations are reduced to a minimum amount of input: 2 terrain elements per quadrant. Again, nothing so different from the previous ways here. But (because there is a “but”) some additional setting recommendations were proposed in examples of battles or scenarii that introduced some features inspired from battle zones extensions from previous editions (city of death, planetstrike…). Some recommended setting types for scenarized battle (Stronghold assault, Spearhead...) In those cases the settings were shifting toward some table arrangement eventually quite different from the core and mundane recommendations for terrain setting, leading to tables with a terrain coverage not necessarily with more density in terms of number of elements on the table, but leading toward an increased covered area in terms of surface used by the elements. In the two examples bellow, inc. the cityfight one, there are 12 to 13 elements of terrain on a 48”x72”, which is as per the guidelines, but the sheer size of the elements deployed covers approx. 30% of the total table surface. Very different from the iceworld setting of this typical battlefield from 3rd Ed where coverage is barely reaching 20%, even by computing hills as terrain areas: You can appreciate the HUGE difference in terms of gaming such a table implies vs. current practices inherited from 8th... SPecial mention to the 8"x4" size of the board It may therefore not be seen as a real change as the terrain density looks similar, yet the average number of elements changed from 9 to 12 for a 48”x72” table from 6th to 8th Ed. A 33% increase. Latest extensions such as Urban Conquest were more a campaign-based system than newly introduced terrain features. In fact, the examples for city fight environments taken from the extension are exactly the sales as the ones from the big rule book (as far as setting is concerned as, of course and among other things, stratagems were different (for example)). Urban conquest/city fight F. 11th snippets Under current proposed arrangements teased for 11th, the terrain density climbs to 16 elements for a 60”x45”. With bigger slotta bases too. The math gives a change from 0,375 to 0,85 terrain element per square foot. Twice more as for 3rd Ed. And in terms of coverage a total of 22,5% of area of the table being covered by terrain areas. So more terrain, with more effect on lines of sights due to the multiplication of small and narrow elements, and an average specific area occupied that is very close from the dense environments defined in previous editions for cityfight for example. 11th teased setting (recommendation as usual...) This is therefore a relatively bright picture of the evolution of the game through the way terrain placement is recommended. Nowadays, we are playing what used to be niche setting of 40k, close to cityfight. Big armoured vehicle concentrations in open range tables (see the “Death of Lord Valrak” bat rep for example) which were more common features have been substituted by a fusillade short range oriented game. The day I fell in love with the Rhino chassis. And a metric of the evolution. This evolution may lead Grognards to regret part of this glorious past and may lead to appreciation differences as far as the 40k way of gaming has evolved over the past editions. Yet, although the terrain gained in symmetry in the proposed settings (which killed part of the narrative terrain aspects) it did not drastically changed from the dense terrain lay out we have since 4th Ed extensions and that took a predominant place in the game. Why is there such a development of the weight and over representation of table loaded with scenary ? Because it’s fun and tend to equalize chances for different armies in many aspects (weak guardians walking in open field was a very bad idea in 2nd Ed..), in a game that is designed as a fusillade game in first instance (Under such statement I will be considered as a promoter of flyers' murdering...). So 11th (and also previous 9th/10th…) is maybe not a motorcycle but a chopper. It still anyways has 2 wheels and an engine underneath the saddle… Yet, proof of fire will tell if optimism is a good medicine or not for the game health (for the wealth part I have no doubt that it will be bankable). See you. May be with a specific insight of the heaviest terrain feature ever the Jungle.

Adepticon 2026: A Word on Competitions. I did the Long War Doubles tournament Friday (everyone has a bit of grey in their beards these days, we aren't getting any younger). I also did the Team Tournament Saturday and Sunday. THis was a lot of late night and early morning shenanigans. I'm getting too old for this. Now, this year team events were part of an overall best-in-show type of award, now called the adepti-cup. This is new to me as I missed out last year. So, we aren't just competing against other teams - we're competing against the whole convention. Yikes. But... we can't let the old Bolter and Chainsword down. We've got to represent. I think the convention was said to be over 8,000 last year (I'm sure it was much more this year, frankly it's gigantic now). So, can we compete with the fantastic castles and sweeping imagery of titanic Sigmar displays? Can we compete with the near-golden demon winning paint jobs of kill team team events? No. But, I can give it all I've got. How it Ends. As to the Adepti-cup we got invited to the showcase. That in itself feels like a big honor. On Saturday night, invitees line up their armies and get judged (this year by Sam Lez, Courtney Devries, and other big names in the miniature world). We didn't place. Which, if I'm honest the rushed work on this really did show up close. If i only had another week or two... But... Fear not brothers! In the end we did take best display in the team tournament. Lots of displays were amazing. Like really really great stuff. This was the hardest competition I've ever been in (well except that one year where a necron player built a digital board that interacted with QR codes on models., that was genuinely insane). We got real lucky. On to the Display. The team wanted a 'Pacific Rim' movie theme. I didn't really know the movie, but the team was set on it. So that's what I went for. For today's entry, I think I'll just start with the water effects problem. I wanted each section of the board to have some kind of 'showstopper' element to it. Here are the main points on the board: Rock formations + Hangar (with fog machine)+ Reaver Titan Landing pad (rotating lights)+ Void Shield Generator (working lights) Crane + Billboards and Terrain kits Wall Sections, AA guns Ocean Effects + Statue of Liberty + Kaiju (Giant Nids) Vintage Monster Movie Posters + skullls Space and Transportation. So my jeep only fits about 38.5 inches wide, 31 high, and 61 inches deep. This board had to be broken in to at least 3 parts in my mind. The full statue of liberty had to be cut down down. I made my own base for it. This was a filament 3d print. So it had a lot of lines. This required automotive primer and sanding. it did get fairly smooth though. I went with Vallejo for the copper. Using some dark blue under coating in the shadows the patina really jumped out. I should have added seaweed and bird poop along with drawing a lot more into the highlights and shadows. But... time is short. Good enough for now. But we did get hurt in the ultimate judging for painting. I keep kicking myself for not starting on the board earlier in the year. Pro Tip: always measure 3x. And, after you've measured go and fit it into place as a trial run anyway. Turns out my jeep door takes up another 4 inches when closed... Display Base The display board was based around the idea of a sea wall. We envisioned monsters coming out of the water. So, for practicality of transport i kept the wall separated and disassembled. I constructed a base for the wall with room for the giant door to move and open. Water Effects The key to the whole project was a youtube video of a guy who built a wizard's tower and made huge waves really pop. I loved it, but could i do it??? It was at that point i figured we had a cool enough idea to actually make this board. He however used resin, which he poured on plastic sheet/bags then just before fully curing he found it flexible enough to fold into wave shapes to be mounted on his board. His project was positively amazing. I do not like resin though. I figured I'd try something cheaper: Caulk, silicone type 1. It's super sticky and also miserable to work with - but only to a point. Using a tongue-depressor/popsicle stick you can smooth it out. I used about 5 units/pipes of caulk on this board. I've seen people use caulk to make molds (which is also miserable). Basically you can fill a bowl with water and dish soap, inject the caulk and then start to work it. The idea is that it's not supposed to be sticky. I never got it to work. So i just spread it on the table. Now, the caulk is unruly. It needs to be smoothed out. The trick is to work in layers. Layers here - unlike painting - take a loooong time to dry. But, you can get great effects. Over the top of the caulk I just used super heavy gel medium (or you can buy super expensive model supply wave effects if you want...). Now, there's another important point here. Ultimately i painted several coats over this caulk. This means the transparent properties of water effects that i thought i needed were not really needed. See-through transparency is important for things coming out of the water - alien arms, legs, etc. But, by and large i'd say sculpt heavy waves in air-dry clay over crumpled tin foil. This would be very inexpensive. Only a small thin layer of caulk then water effects over that. The Fear. I will say, putting the caulk down was a very nervous moment. I felt like if it didn't work we were absolutely sunk and I'd have ruined a lot of time and effort... Painting Water Here you can see I'm coming in with Kroxigor Scales and Akhellion Green (which is inexplicably a deep blue...). You could use any paint you want really. I thought about doing more of a muddy water, but i figured it wouldn't translate well in miniature. I wanted deep ocean blue. Interestingly since i had used various wave and water effects some were not dry. Woodland scenics actually goes on white. So at various points while painting you could see white streaking under the waves. I guess what i'm saying is that there is definitely a cool effect just waiting to be captured by a better painter. Anyway, i came back over the tops with white. I got a bit careless here and should have used some masking (time crunch was really really bad though at this point). Below here i had mapped out all the colors. This ended up being unnecessary as i used a lot of paint on the waves themselves. Depending on your strategy you may well want to 'underpaint' like i did here though as you could have a board where it does show. Ok, this part was the show time moment. I used 3-4 types of woodland scenics water effects. None of them were super necessary. Just get some superheavy gel medium of any brand (MIchael's, Hobby Lobby, etc). If it's clear that's better as it's easier to see what you are doing. Most of them are white until they dry. So, below here i have just the normal water effects. This stuff is only good to be poured maybe 1/8inch. It also doesn't make waves. You can pour it out on plastic to make waterfalls and such as it is flexible. Anyway, you gotta mix this with the snow flock to make the white caps on the waves. This is messy. The super heavy gel might have been better, but I ran out of most of it. This was good enough. The ratio of mixing is really up to you. If you go more heavy on the water it'll be like a slush. If you go heavy on the snow flock it'll be super detailed - but it won't stick to anything. So, I kind made a slush to spead on the wave, then made a snow heavy batch to spread on top of that to get a lot of detail and contour. This one is just going back to show the design layout. I was originally going to put all turrets out there, but somehow I could only find 3 vengeance batteries. As they are $250+ on ebay now i'm not buying more... Anyway, i would later find that statue of liberty STL and was thrilled. I will say building my wall was actually a complete disaster. I'll have to do a separate section on that. The STL was great. It solved the problems, but I'd originally planned a very different wall. Here are the experiments on the water effects. Early colors were off. Early texture experiments started to show some promise very easily with rapids/wave texture just by tapping the popsicle stick on the water effect. Here i used super heavy gel. One major problem though, which persisted all the way through was wave design - straight lines hitting shore seemed ok, but waves are actually very complex patterns. I never did get it quite right. However, with some reference photos and working in layers i think anybody could beat me here. It's totally doable. As I looked at the board more i realized that you basically look at where the wave hits and where it would bounce off to. Just keep layering. This photo shows how textured the caulk is naturally. So this is just me smoothing it out as best i could. I will say if you sat with it and kept combing it up ward for hours until it dried you could probably get some neat effects - just super tedius work though. And, why not just go over this with gel medium to smooth it? Way easier solution. It was here i felt the colors were coming in right. I felt we could do the project. In hindsight... this was only 3/4 to 1 inch tall. Meanwhile my waves on the board are 3-4 inches tall. I think my waves are a bit thin and should instead be beefy and fat. Admittedly that'd have taken another couple barrels of caulk, but it'd have looked cooler. Ah, the last photo before the caulk went down. A tense moment... Ok, thanks for reading. I think I'll stop at water effects here. I'll have to do separate entries on the other stuff. Electronics is not my strong suit and we brought in legos for the win!

Preamble After a fair bit of lurking, list-reading, and quietly nodding along at other people’s excellent paint jobs, I figured it was time to start a hobby log of my own here on Bolter & Chainsword. This blog is mainly intended as a running record of my Warhammer journey: building, learning, painting, and occasionally questioning my life choices while staring at half-assembled sprues late at night. I’m relatively new to the hobby, coming at it as an adult with limited hobby time but a strong appreciation for Space Wolves, plastic heresy, and incremental progress. The plan is to use this space to post photos, painting updates, lessons learned (often the hard way), and general hobby milestones. I’m very much learning as I go, so constructive feedback, advice, and suggestions are always welcome—whether it’s about techniques, colour choices, or how to avoid repainting the same model three times. This will be a slow-burn project rather than a rapid army dump, but the goal is steady improvement and enjoying the process. Feel free to follow along, comment, critique, or simply use this as motivation to clear your own backlog. When i first started i bought Space wolves and then got hooked and wanted to also be able to try painting something with less armor plates so i bought into Orks. Here is a couple photos of where I am at now when starting this blog. With that said—onward to the plastic.

Hi Folks, As another installment of this Series for my 12 MoH Plodding along pledge, I have completed the painting of my first pieces of scenery: the Rocky concretion and a Fairy Chimney. The Styfoam once carved and plastered/textured, has received locally some additional layers of sand and gravel to mimic accumulated ashes and rock debris. Painting step included a hue made from 2 different colors: dark grey and brownish grey, both from DIY store. The dark grey is applied on the bottom part so that it gives a continuity with the Ashland board. The top structure is set in brownish so that some eye-catching contrast is brought to the table. In between various mixes from 1/3 grey – 2/3 brown to 1/6 grey – 5/6 brown were done so that shading and relief is added. For sand (ash), a diluted grey was then added on the sandy areas before getting 2 dry brushes with Dawnstone grey and Corax white. Top rocks were dry brushed on edges with Kislev flesh. Et Voilà!: The hill is 45 cm width or so, so it makes a significant piece of terrain that can be climbbed out by infantery models and seriously break LoS. The overall aspect is my personnal homenage to classic western movies and comics... The chimney is a pure recycling of off-cut from the main board. 1 or 2 additionnal chimneys are likely to see the light when I will carve more styfoam for the big part of the project: the mine entrance itself. Close-up of an element of the hill for seeing the various brushes and hue: I consider this part to be done, unless I add some brown/orange Lichen here or there as tuft once the rest of the scenery will be done. But later. Next step will be the Containers, Fuel drums and Crates dumps... See you then

They are the Green Templar: hunters of forbidden relics, executioners of knowledge, and the hammer that keeps the Dark Age of Technology buried forever. Successors of the Salamanders, they strike where the Imperium dares not tread, leaving nothing alive that could betray what they hunt. FINAL COGITATOR ENTRY OF CAPTAIN SÉBASTIEN YORKE: They came aboard without ceremony. No warning chime. No challenge from the augur decks. One moment the Gloria Invictus drifted on idle in Imperial voidspace, her holds full and her ledgers clean. The next, the boarding alarms screamed like dying things. Green armor. Not Salamanders green—colder, somehow. Bone-white pauldrons marked with a templar cross. Two chapters merged into one impossible purpose. I could only guess who these Green Templar really were. I invoked my Warrant. “I am a Rogue Trader—Sébastien Yorke—of the Imperium,” I said, forcing steel into my voice. “By the authority of the High Lords of Terra—” They did not answer. They advanced, deck by deck, methodical, unhurried. Not butchers. Not raiders. Auditors. Sealing bulkheads, marking crates, tagging cogitator cores with red sigils that pulsed once and went dark. My armsmen fired. Some died screaming in fire that clung to flesh and armor alike. Others vanished under bolter fire so precise it felt personal. No warnings. No demands. Only collection. They found the vaults. I followed them, flanked by my Seneschal and what remained of my honor guard, shouting words like talismans: Warrant. Sanction. Cold Trade. I told them the artifacts were catalogued, secured, studied under Mechanicus charter. I told them I had saved worlds with the technologies they now sealed away. A warrior turned toward me. His helm lenses burned like coals. “You have saved nothing,” he said. That was the only sentence any of them spoke. They brought the seized relics to the docking bay—xenos engines wrapped in null-shrouds, crystalline cogitators older than the Imperium, weapons that hummed with sleeping suns. My life’s work. My legacy. And then Vulkan He’stan arrived. I recognized him at once. You don’t trade the stars for three centuries without learning the faces of legends. The Forgefather walked among my cargo in silence, the Primarch's Spear mag-locked at his side, his gauntlet brushing dust from devices that had cost me entire systems to acquire. Hope flared in my chest. Fool that I was. “Lord,” I said. “You see—this is sanctioned. This is lawful. This knowledge—” He stopped before a device I had never dared activate. He studied it for a long moment. Then he shook his head. Just once. No condemnation. No command. He turned and left my ship. I understood. The Green Templar waited until his vessel cleared the hangar before they began the purge. They did not destroy the artifacts first. They destroyed the records. My ledgers burned. My cogitator banks were slagged. Servitors dismantled into wet meat and scrap. I was seized, restrained, pulse-bound—not by mercy, but by necessity. The Apothecary moved among the wounded, scanning every survivor, preparing his tools. He would ensure no trace of forbidden knowledge survived. When he finally approached, I would've sworn I saw the disgust through his helmet as he recognized what was buried within me—the source of my long life. For the briefest of moments he studied it—buried, ancient, alien. The narthecium unfolded. Pressure. Heat. A wet shock. Gone. Four hundred years collapsed in seconds. The Apothecary crushed it in his gauntlet. Strength drained. Vision dimmed. The last thing I saw: green armor moving past me, methodical, unconcerned, as the charges finished counting down on the remaining vaults. I had thought the technology kept me alive. I was wrong. It only postponed the moment I became unacceptable. ☆☆☆ PERSONAL LOG: SEREN KORRAN, SALAMANDERS STORMRAVEN PILOT — DAY 47, ALPHA RIM PATROL I did not look at the ship as it burned. Hands steady on the Stormraven controls, the engine hum drowned out the void-detonations behind us. Auspex returns flared and died as Sébastien Yorke’s vessel came apart, compartment by compartment, exactly as planned. The Forgefather stood behind me, silent. I knew—everyone in the forge-clans knew—that he despised the Green Templar. Not for zeal, but for certainty. They were a tool he would never claim, only point toward the rim and loose like a blade. Because they were the best. No one hunted forbidden tech more thoroughly. No one left questions. I had seen the cargo. Xenos engines bound in prayer-chains. Devices whose light bent the air. Knowledge that could have fed worlds, healed atmospheres, ended wars I had already fought. Vulkan He’stan inspected only what he must. Human craft. Provenance traced. Lineage confirmed. Anything born of alien thought he did not touch. Anything that might have helped all mankind—destroyed. That was the limit of his mercy. The Promethean Creed teaches fire tempers. That what survives is stronger. I had repeated those words a thousand times on Nocturne. But there was no tempering here. Only selection. Only annihilation. As we cleared the blast radius, the ship’s death registered on my displays. A brief flare. Wreckage scattered. Then nothing. No life signs. No records. I said nothing. That is my shame. The Forgefather remained silent behind me, a presence like cooled steel. He had done what he could. The rest, he left to monsters. ☆☆☆ AFTER-ACTION RECORD: GT-RIM-4471 Subject: Void-vessel Gloria Invictus — Cold Trade contamination confirmed. Disposition: All artifacts, records, and biological carriers purged. Vessel expunged. No recoverable legacy remains. ☆☆☆ Somewhere in the void, as my life faded and the Green Templar disappeared into the dark, I thought I heard a whisper of my name—but no one would ever speak it again.

JOURNAL OF ELIAS RENN (Recovered fragment. Original medium: bound paper journal, water- and ash-damaged.) Entry I: I write this as I walk. The road south cuts through the hills like a scar. I have followed it since dawn, though I no longer remember leaving the last town. Only the smoke remains clear in my mind—black and greasy, climbing into the sky like a signal flare for something vast and patient. They came without warning. No herald, no parley. The bells rang once before falling silent. Green armor moved through the square: huge, methodical shapes untouched by panic. Bolters did not roar; they punctuated. Each shot felt like the end of a sentence. I was spared only because I was already gone. That is my purpose, after all. Messenger. Runner. Fool who believes words can outrun fire. Entry II: The people of Varn’s Crossing listened. They nodded. They mad the sign of the Aquila when I spoke of Space Marines. But I saw the doubt in their eyes. Everyone knows His Angels do not descend for nothing. Everyone knows if they burn a place, it must have deserved it. I slept in the stable. I dreamed of armored boots grinding grain to dust. Tomorrow I try again. Entry III: They are burning in a line. That is what terrifies me most. It is not random. It is not wrath. Towns fall one by one, each nearer than the last, as though already marked. As though plotted on a map I cannot see. Today I heard of a village to the east—no survivors, no bodies whole enough to bury. Only ash and the sharp chemical sting that clawed at the eyes. I am beginning to wonder whether I am fleeing them… or leading them. Entry IV: I have started counting days since I left home. My wife’s face comes to me at night, stern and tired, as if she knows something I do not. My daughter laughs in my dreams, holding up her hands, asking if I have brought her something. Emperor forgive me. I did. Entry V: The thought arrived uninvited and now refuses to leave. What do I carry that others do not? No relics. No forbidden texts. No augmetics. I am no heretic. I pray. I tithe. I obey. Yet I remember the pilgrimage. The long road. The nameless guide. The hidden path. The quiet grove, untouched, impossibly green, impossibly old. An Aeldari world, though I did not know the word then. Only that it felt ancient. The vial was small. Clear glass. Clear liquid. Harmless, I thought. A gift. Entry VI: I went home. I do not know why I believed I could outrun them and still return. Perhaps I thought love would make me invisible. She was asleep when I entered. Curled on her side, breath slow, one hand open on the blanket. The vial sat on the table near the bed. She had placed it there carefully, upright, like a votive. I had not told her what it was. I had called it a blessing. I understood then. Not all at once. Enough. I lifted it and felt the cold through the glass. The liquid shifted, slow and deliberate, as if aware of being moved. My fingers shook. I waited for the sound of glass on wood, for her to stir. She did not. I stood there longer than was safe, listening to them breathe. I tried to memorize the sound. I failed. In the washroom I hesitated. Stupidly. As if hesitation mattered. I thought of the culvert, the fields, the river beyond town. All the places where water is allowed to disappear. Then I looked back at the bed. I chose. I poured it down the drain. It did not splash. It slid away, smooth and obedient, leaving the sink clean. The pipes did not protest. There was no smell, except something faint and familiar. Rain. I ran water after it. More than necessary. I told myself it was gone. I told myself this was what saving them looked like. I left before dawn and took a room at the inn where I could see the road and still see the house. I told myself distance was protection. I told myself I was clever. Entry VII: I took a room at the inn facing the road. From the window I could see my house. The roofline. The place where the gutter sagged. The bedroom window where the light caught in the morning and woke them before I did. I stood in plain sight. I wanted them to see me. I thought that mattered. I believed I had outsmarted them. They came midmorning. Not charging. Not hunting. A procession. White and green moving with the patience of men who know there is nowhere left to go. I waited for the moment when one of them would look up and raise a weapon. The one in white stopped instead. He carried a hand-scanner. He raised it and let it hum, slow and thoughtful, as if tasting the air. His helm turned toward the inn. Toward me. For a moment I was certain this was it. Then he lowered the device. He pointed. Not at me. At my house. The scanner moved again. He gestured to the next structure. Then the next. Calm. Precise. I could not hear the words, but I did not need them. The drain. The pipes. The way the liquid slid away so easily. I understood then what I had done. Not escaped. Not hidden. I had spread it. I had carried it into the walls. Into the water. Into everything they would test and mark and cleanse. The white one did not look back. Four Marines stepped forward. Flamers were raised with practiced indifference. No hesitation. No announcement. Fire does not need permission. I remained at the window. No one escapes the pyre. (No further journal entries.) EXTRACT: ADEPTUS ADMINISTRATUM SUB-SECTOR CLEANSING RECORD REF: GT-CX/XENOS-19-THREE CLEARANCE: MAGENTA DISTRIBUTION: RESTRICTED Subject: Civilian Settlement Contamination Event Location: Designate Three of Nineteen, Minoris Surface Habitation Tithe: Adeptus Non Responsible Authority: Green Templars Crusade Detachment, Blade Authority Confirmed Summary: On [REDACTED], auspex confirmation detected non-Imperial particulate contamination within a surface settlement designate Three of Nineteen. Contaminant exhibited self-propagating properties consistent with xenos-derived catalytic agents. Vector determined to be civilian transport from quarantined orbital structure. Assessment: Contamination classified as Class Absolutum. Spread confirmed via domestic water systems and substructure piping. Probability of civilian survival without full sterilization assessed at 0.0003%. Action Taken: In accordance with Crusade Purity Statutes and Codex Exactorum, Section XII, Sub-Clause Pyre, the following measures were enacted: • Full incineration of all affected hab structures • Termination of all civilian biological presence • Secondary purification burn to ensure null residuals • No recovery of remains deemed necessary Notable Observations: One civilian male observed at off-site lodging during initiation of cleansing protocols. Apothecarion scan registered no significant contamination at subject’s location at time of assessment. Subject classified as non-priority. No deviation from operational objectives recorded. Casualties: • Carriers: Total • Adeptus Astartes: None • Material Loss: Negligible Conclusion: Cleansing successful. Contamination eradicated. No relics, substances, or anomalous materials recovered of note. Final Disposition: Incident closed. Further inquiry unwarranted. The Emperor Protects.

With the dust settling on the holidays I finally had time to complete a project I've been working on for the last couple of months, and with that completion comes my first blog post in...a long time. Space Wolves have always been one of my favorite chapters, and when the wolf-scouts came out I was excited to paint up more sons of Russ. I wanted the "lore" behind this pack to be that they were Primaris marines that had drunk from the Cup of Wulfen and had begun to exhibit signs of the curse. They were given Wulfen Shoulder pads to signify their change, but with the help of their Rune Priest managed to keep the curse at bay. The stock models are cool, and they have a decent amount of "wolfy" bits on them, but not nearly enough for my tastes. I like my space wolves to be dripping in totems and furs, fortunately I got a box of the old wolf-guard as a gift from a friend a while back and was able to put them to ample use. I started with pulling out all the first born heads that felt like they fit, and then began adding various other bits to give them a more unique feel. After adding bits I started in on the green-stuff work. I bought a texture plate from GSW a while back, and put it to ample use. Its a pretty solid product, able to re-produce the "old" style fur very well, though the results don't read as well next to the newer/sharper fur sculpts, I'm still a fan. I used the fur to create pelts to cover the pack shoulderpad as my lore for the scouts is they serve Logar, but are loaned out to other packs as needed (and I didn't want to mess with transfers or use Ragnar's pads) as well as convert the Rune Priest into something significantly more shamanistic. As for the Rune Priest I managed to get a space wolf from the kit from a friend, this particular wolf model's head comes in two parts, and with a little modification makes for a great Wolf Hat. I had to add a lot more greenstuff fur to blend it more appropriately, including some Blue-Stuff clones of the existing wolf-fur to make the transition a bit more smooth, but overall I'm happy with the end result (above second picture isn't quite the end, result but its close) After the greenstuff dried it was onto painting. In retrospect I probably rushed this a bit, but after all the time I'd spent on kit-bashing and working with Greenstuff I was eager to get these models on the table. That didn't stop me from taking the time to pick out some of the fun details on the models though, I'm always a sucker for wrist computers. Once I had them suitably painted up I moved onto the bases. I've done a fair few snow/ice bases with Space Wolves but due tot he abundance of blue on the models I tend not to like them as much. I have two of the GSW texture rollers that are perfect for Space Wolves (Runic and Nordic) and put them to work creating bases for the pack. The textures are much thinner than I would typically like, but that is because this project finally used up the last of my 3' green stuff tape I'd bought ages ago. Since I was already planning on adding moss on top of them (and several of the models have tactical rocks) It didnt' end up mattering, but don't let some of the lack of detail/smudges in the above picture turn you off of the product, that's an application error and not a reflection on the rollers themselves (see my Deathwatch post for a better version of them) All in all I'm very happy with the end result. I finished them last week and am looking forward to getting them on the table soon. (Apparently I hit the upload image max on this post, so I can't post individual shots of the team though they should be in the linked album.)

"It was the year of fire, the year of destruction, the year we took back what was ours. It was the year of rebirth, the year of great sadness, the year of pain, and the year of joy. It was a new age. It was the end of history. It was the year everything changed. The year is 2026; the place: Bolter & Chainsword" Today, I start construction of the 164th.

Ugh the Holidays.....Stress of money, Kids on Christmas break, Family visits, Work, Holidays Party, Cleaning the house, repairs, etc. The past few weeks Life has taken over and the hobby time has been non existent even when it comes to other hobbies not involving gaming as well. Every time I tried to take time to myself, I was unable too or it was delayed, to a point where I could not do it because of other things. Then having to go to work 2 hours earlier and staying later, then while at home staying up later than expected really wore me down. My mental well being has really suffering. I really needed a break from the holidays and life and get some hobby time. HH League is going to be done in March so I should be starting up with my Clubs Crusade league, which will be playing my True Scaled Grey Knights. My motivation to get the True Scaled Grey Knights done is with the MoH 2026. This hobby challenge is nice as it is not stressful and at your own pace with lots of individuals motivating you.

It feels like I’m starting to get the hang of the blog format, so I’ll finish by showing you all the miniatures that have been completed at this stage. I’ll start with “The Red Oath”, a squad of renegade guardsmen that I play as Kasrkin. There are a few conversions to match the official loadout (notably this improvised bomb made from several grenades glued together to represent a Melta Mine), but otherwise the models are based on the official Renegade Guard kit. Their personalities really come through thanks to the red markings, which symbolize their brotherhood and their allegiance to Chaos. Next up is Team Hellfire, a heavy weapons squad equipped with a lascannon. I’m quite proud of the overheating effect on the barrel. The two remaining teams will be completed in the coming months. The final squad is my favorite in the army so far. These are three giant mutants armed with rusted weapons and Rhino doors used as shields. They are played using Bullgryn profiles (and are extremely imposing for 30mm bases). I hesitated for a long time over which base kit to use for the conversion, but eventually settled on The Old World Minotaurs combined with bits from the Chaos Spawn kit (a kit I absolutely love).

Night has fallen on the city of Uld-Town. The capital of the agri-world of Therema-IV, it boasts a modest population of only twenty million citizens, those that are required to oversee the tithes of the massive grain-fields that cover the planet. The Dreadclaw drops from the sky, landing struts outstretched and engine furiously braking. The droppod slams into the earth as a small mushroom-cloud of dust rises from the impact. At the slum-edge of the city few notice the noise or the fog of dust. Indistinct forms flicker-step through the dust, massive but strangely quiet. A skull-faced helm is the first thing visible through the murk. An Astartes, colored in midnight blue and steel, strides forward into the darkened city. In one hand, a chainglaive of terrible mien, banded in bone ripped from the bodies of the judged. His other hand waves forward the invaders, directing them to move quickly and silently across the shattered rockcrete. He is Navir Xikas, the right hand of the Stained Lord. His purpose is terror. The Chosen move swiftly through the city, bypassing local Enforcer checkpoints and the few citizens awake at this late hour. Their target was clear- the fortress-bastion of the Adeptus Arbites. They scaled the walls and disappeared inside the fortress. No sound was heard. Dawn breaks. The city wakes and the screams began. Across the walls of the Arbites sanctum were hung their flayed skins, red-wet skulls nailed to the closed gates. The Judges of the Imperium have been judged and found wanting. If the iron hand of the Lex could be struck down, who was safe? What could have done this. Panic rose as the Enforcers and guards attempted to stem the tide of rumors and unease. The Governor and local Ponifex Mundi preach messages of calm and peace from their fortified palaces, secretly terrified. Above, cold eyes watch from a hidden ship. The first blow has been struck and now the true fear could be unleashed. Carrow opened a vox-relay to Xikas. "Bring them fear. Bring them pain. Show them the failure of the law, the church, the politicians. Ave Dominus Nox." Ten Chosen stalked and hunted in a city of twenty million. The city trembled. Navir Xikas Claw Leader of the Shrikeborn Chosen, The Blade Between Shadows “We are not beasts. We are the scalpel in the dark—swift, silent, and final.” — Navir Xikas, before the execution of the rogue Inquisitor Vellarn Navir Xikas is the Chosen leader of the Shrikeborn, commanding the warband’s elite infantry and acting as strategic executor of Stained Lord Carrow’s will. Where the Raptors strike from above and the Warp Talons phase through reality, Xikas and his Chosen are the blade that walks unseen, delivering death with precision and purpose. Once a Legionary sergeant during the late Great Crusade, Xikas was known for his cold efficiency and unshakable discipline. He survived the Heresy not through brutality, but through calculated restraint, earning Carrow’s trust during the long retreat into the Eye. Unlike many of his brethren, Xikas has never sought daemonic favor or mutation, his armor remains untainted, adorned only with kill-marks and Nostraman script etched into the plating. Xikas leads a squad known as the Ceaseless Silent, the Chosen who specialize in decapitation strikes, infiltration, and targeted assassinations. They are often deployed ahead of the main assault, eliminating key personnel, sabotaging defenses, or sowing fear through ritualized executions. Each member of the Ceaseless Silent carries a vow-blade, a short combat knife engraved with the name of a past failure meant to remind them of the cost of hesitation. Though not as revered as Carrow or feared as Amathys, Xikas is respected without question. He is the warband’s tactical anchor, the one who ensures that terror is not wasted, and that every strike serves a purpose. His voice is calm, his orders precise, and his presence on the battlefield is like a shadow that moves just before the killing blow. To the Shrikeborn, Navir Xikas is the embodiment of control, the necessary balance between fury and sorrow. To their enemies, he is the last whisper before the dark.

Hi folks, Here comes another installment of this series with the Heretek model, to be used as a proxy for the Lectro-Maester. Its paint scheme has been largely copied/pasted from my AdMech Priesthood: grey robe made out of Mechanium Grey, Washed with Agrax Earthshade and then dry bruched with Dawnstone and Ulthuan grey. Most of the rest is standardized detailing (red cables, dry brushed Leadbelcher…). The C.A.T. unit and the skulls are also painted in the simplest way: dry brush and minimum tabletop ready colors. The resulting group: With some as clumsy as usual close ups: Whatever I may do, these models can still be integrated in any RT entourage, AdMech list as Priests, Necromunda gang or eventually in a HH Mecahicum force (That I do not have but that may become a thing as the models are so gorgeous… See you with extra stuff, such as for example the Rogue Trader herself, as this figure is still missing...

Hi folks, As part of my add-ons units from Imperial Agents, I have been planning for a while dealing with an Inquisitorial Retinue. A pure Fluff reason is lying underneath as I do not really see any tactical benefit atm; yet from a narrative approach it is a nice touch: a AdMech Exploratory Fleet that as not so tight bounds with its ForgeWorld and may be suspiciously looked at because of some possibly heretek behaviours and personalities in its ranks. May it be enough for a close monitoring by Ordo Xenos or affiliated Ordo Minoris such as Ordo Machinum? I do not have enough models yet to build up a 6 men strong retinue as I lack a Gun Servitor. I might go without yet and stick to 5. I neither have enough model to go to a 10 or 12 men strong retinue as I (still) lack Gun Servitors plus 2 additional models (but a house Greim advisor might do hit, or any other Necromunda Hired guns; unless I convert some from spare GSC cult bodies, which is not necessary my fav option but, let’s admit it, probably the more likely one…) Now, the newly added members are an Infocyte and an Infotek. Indeed monitoring (spying from within) AdMech Priests might require very specific, accurate and advanced Information Technology related skills. Just connecting your dentrites to AdMech datastack is already putting you at risk… Here come the models, mostly following the paint schemes one can find on GW sites: The Infocyte Dendrite has been uneasy to glue. It still has an odd angle due to various breakdown I have repaired as I could. This Superglue looks like it has no intention to glue resin but fingers only... The Infotek and his hoovering chair is mostly a metal color dry brushed on a black base coat. Details and skin tone add contrast, but it is really a quick and dirty model to be painted. Almost zero skill required. That is all for this sub project within Imperial Agents for the moment. I still have to find some alternatives for the Gun Servitors and the missing henchmen. Once solved I will resume. See you folks.

"She's a warbird, and an old one at that, but don't let that fool you, min ven. She is a predator, a night eagle, a Night Rovfugl, and once she has you in her claws, you will never see the morning." Stenrik looked over to me. I could see in his face that quiet strength I had come to admire in him. But there was something else. Fear, perhaps? I did not ask, I merely kept listening. "She is like a wild bjergløve. By the time you see her, she has already been watching you for thirty minutes and now is her time. Yours is done." I glanced over the horizon to the setting sun, anxiety racing to fill my thoughts before I put it down. "Then we'd better be ready for our guest." WIP of the Valkyrie, the Night Rovfugl which translates as something approximate to Night Bird of Prey. Sure, on the gaming table, she's just a regular Valkyrie, but I wanted her to give a sense of impending doom when she shows up in the story. She is Barcza and his spec ops (read: kasrkin) team's transport. So you know if you spot her, you're in for a world of pain.

So after a delay, the outreach session finally took place today. Despite how much I suck (more on that later), I think it went very well. So how do I suck? The overall summary of my suckiness is that I allowed myself to be distracted by other things. Admittedly, some of those were Real Life things and far more important than the game, but a significant chunk of the time I should have been devoting to preparing for the big day was devoted to some site stuff. I'm kind of excited about that stuff, though, so I'll get over it. The community will be seeing that site stuff SoonTM, too. But a more detailed list of my failings is in order. For starters, I didn't get my Legio kill team finished. I'm a paint snob and, though my skills are mediocre (at best), I won't play with unpainted (or unfinished) miniatures. I allowed myself to be distracted by far too many things to get the Legio models finished to a level with which I was satisfied, so at the last minute I dug out some miniatures that I painted over 20 years ago. They're not great, but they were "finished" to a battle-ready level. I have plans to improve them, but they're serviceable. I also had a bunch of other grandiose ambitions that I failed to achieve. The other big area where I suck is that I totally forgot to take pictures of the game. I didn't quite refresh my understanding of the 2021 edition of the rules to a perfect level, so a couple of things weren't quite up to snuff. It was a friendly game, though, and we realized midway through that we should have been doing a few things a little differently, but those mistakes didn't reduce anyone's fun. Indeed, they probably sped things up a bit, so the small errors may have been beneficial. Things didn't quite go as planned, however. First, it took longer than it should have to get to the game store in which we played (which is a really cool game store, by the way - Hole in the Wall Hobbies in Universal City, TX), partly because of the construction taking place on the freeways (there's always construction taking place somewhere on the freeways here) and partly because my GPS sucks. I got there early, though, since I'm experienced enough to plan for these things. Then one additional player showed up, for a total of five (including me). That would have made things a bit hinky, so the four of them divided into two teams of two and I sat on the side and helped them learn the game. While it was disappointing to not actually play, the whole experience was well worth it and I don't feel that I lost out in the least. While we were playing the 2021 edition of the game, we used a modified version of the Joint Ops rules from the current edition, splitting each player's kill team in half so that we didn't have operatives tripping over each other (and so that the game wouldn't drag out too long). Team Black (based on a coincidence of shirt colors) ended up as a fire team of Necron Warriors and a fire team of Repentia while Team Pink (again, shirt colors) ended up as three Intercessors and two Adeptus Custodes. For terrain, we kept things very simple and used only an old Space Marine statue (from the Cities of Death era), a bunch of barricades (again, from the Cities of Death era), and the actual small barricades for the 2021 edition of the game. They fought out a basic Open Play mission, with a quick movement to contact and deadly scrum. The game ended up being called at the end of turning point three when Team Black had only one Necron Warrior remaining against one Adeptus Custode and one Intercessor. I think everyone was down on wounds, but the writing was definitely on the wall. All in all, it was great fun to introduce fellow hobbyists to a new way to enjoy the hobby. I'm certain that we played a few things incorrectly, but this wasn't a game "to win" - it was a game "to learn." And even though I was on the sidelines, it was great fun to be involved in the game and to watch as their delight in the game grew, cheering on good rolls and groaning at terrible rolls together while encouraging everyone to have fun. It's always great to spend time with good people. Overall, they all said that they had a lot of fun and were very interested in adding Kill Team to their Warhammer 40,000 hobbying, so I'll consider it a mission accomplished.

Horus Heresy 3.0 Age of Darkness Saturnine box and books acquired! Added to league officially! XIXTH LEGION- RAVEN GUARD 707th Expeditionary fleet, "OSPREY FLEET" So I was able to get some painting done last night. Seekers not much done Start Ended- Armor was hit with a dry brush of Army Painter Air Black Triad: Matt Black, Raven Black, and Crow hue Same for the Assault Marine Squad Primed matt black and then dry brushed with the colors listed above And then the Praetor was started too Grey Castle was added to start blocking out the white parts Question is should I make the destroyed Contemptor III Legion (like shown on my Remembrancer) or as my regular Opponents @The_Oni_of_Hindsight's IV Legion

Well it is a sad day...my self healing cutting mat is done for...once I buy a new one. All because a Bottle of Extra Thin Super glue cracked in multiple places and glued stuff down. So went to my FLGS that is closing at the end of the month, which will be another blog post in itself, to say goodbye to the owner and pick up some debonder. While purchasing the debonder, one of the employees said Extra Thin Super Glue bottle crack on you? I said yes and he said I am hearing that a lot lately. The Culprit: The Victim: The aftermath: Lost an arbite, an engine for 3d print, a dental pick, brush soap, bases, anti tip triangle, scraping tool (the good og gw one too). It is what it is. So I will be getting a new one soon...after my trip this coming weekend.

So, another update! This time I've been working on one of the units that will be taken from C:SM, a squad of Hellblasters. However, considering that the army will have a more Firstborn feel to them, I decided to make them as a ‘Plasma Support Squad’! I also wanted the squad members to keep the more individual feel of the counts-as Grey Hunter units, so I mixed up the types of plasma weapons, though this is just an aesthetic choice - they're all standard Hellblasters in the list. While I was doing that, I also got the bases done on all of the current batch, ready for undercoating. The theme is cityfight, so they've got bits and pieces of rubble and rubbish. When I was doing this, I realised I'd made an error on the base for the Flesh Wyrd (Wolf Priest). Obviously it should be a 40mm, not 32mm. So I carefully chopped him off and rebased him. That gave me a bit more space, and I remembered that I had a base bit left over from the Fabius Bile kit, which just fit nicely! Lastly, I had one body left from the 5 GHs I bought, and a spare hammer from the GK, so I thought I'd try putting my Hearthguard Champion (WGBL) together. He's armed with a Thunder Hammer with the ‘Braggart's Steel’ Enhancement, otherwise known as a ‘chonking big hammer'! Str 10 (and hopefully Dam 3 after a bit) ftw! Anyway, thanks for looking! C+C always welcome! Next up: copious amounts of black undercoating!

Hi Folks, Some 5 days after the kick-off of CtA25, I have managed some serious progress on my first units enlisted in my Xenos' pledge. Kabalites bodies are now completed and the kit bashed Archon may probably require only a few corrective touches of 0000 brushed plus basing. You can see bellow that I did not changed my scheme and sticked to the Arkhelian blue. Sorry, it is supposed to be a green. Next step will be heads and weapons. The Archon (based on the GSC femal magus with very little swaps) is quite distinct. This so-called follower of Ynnari will be useful either as a converted Wytche Maiden or a devoted Farseer. Multipurpose character. Pic is not that great and too dark. anyway, I will try to take a better one once the model will be finished, basing included... That's all for the moment. More work in perspective. I have just made the barbed wire floors of the vehicles and set a first layer of Incubi Darkness on the caracasses of the Venoms. More latter i.e. in a few days. See you.

My local group tends to run 1-2 loosely themed campaigns a year. The first one of 3.0 is themed around the Siege of Mezoa. The campaign centers around control of 3 rings of loyalist fortifications (Mezoa Primus, Outlying Defenses, Orbital Defense Grid). Each fortification gives a different bonus to the loyalists. The traitor's objective is to gain control of all three. The loyalists can end the siege if they are able to maintain control of all three defensive rings and complete a special apex mission after sufficiently depleting the traitor forces. There is a 7-stage logistics tracker that measures how the siege is progressing. As the traitors win, they gain tactical superiority and get special benefits. When they gain a certain level of superiority, they can launch a special apex mission to gain control of a fortification. Conversely, as the loyalists win it swings the other way. The traitors get penalties reflecting the cost of attrition and supply depletion as the loyalists gain momentum. The campaign does have a time limit (months) as there is a chance the victory conditions won't be triggered, and people will want to move on. If we end up playing a lot of games in short order it could be over very quickly instead! If the time limit is reached without a decisive victor, then the 'winning' side will be determined based on total games won. In reality we'll all win since the point is to have fun and play games. But someone has to have bragging rights! Note: None of the ideas or custom rules are mine. There are a few people in the group who put these together year after year. I just play games and make sarcastic statements. If there is interest, I will detail out the custom rules. However, they may be changed as things get tweaked for balance. Campaign Kick Off The Traitor fleets have arrived above the Forge World of Mezoa, and bring death with them. Falling back to classic maneuvers, the Traitor forces employ a lightning assault against both the Orbital Defense Grid and the planet’s surface, hoping to overwhelm Loyalist defenders and establish a beachhead. Such a move is risky, for while the Loyalists still control the space around the planet, ground forces will not be safe from the massive guns bristling the orbital platforms. The opening event occured this weekend and consisted of two linked apex missions. Two of the ten players couldn't make it, so we ended up with going with 1v1 and 3v3 for the match ups. The Night Lords and Militia/Imperial Fists players were the two absent. The first was a Zone Mortalis mission representing the attack on a defense grid control station. This was a 5-turn mission intended to accommodate 1v1, 1v2, or 2v2 (1250 points a side if 1v1, 2000 points a side if 2v2). The loyalists start with control of three control station rooms which are being used to launch bombardments on the beachhead assault board. As long as the loyalists control the majority of control rooms, their side can use orbital bombardments during the other game. If the traitors gain complete control of grid they can turn the bombardment on the loyalist defenders instead. World Eaters and Salamanders deployment We ended up with World Eaters versus Salamanders for the Zone Mortalis game. The Salamanders managed to keep the World Eaters from taking control of the defense grid. The World Eaters were so lost to the nails that they struggled to open the blast doors quickly, which left not enough time to capture all the control rooms. World Eaters arguing on whether to pull or push the door to open it. The second mission represented the traitor's attempt to establish the beachhead. This was a 4-turn mission intended as a 2v2 or 3v3 match with 2500 points per player. There were several special rules: (1) No super heavies allowed. (2) All traitor forces start in reserve. Deep strikes are allowed starting on the first turn and each traitor can attempt two deep strikes per turn. (3) During each loyalist shooting phase, while the loyalists hold the majority of defense control rooms, they can fire orbital bombardments on the traitors. If the traitors can gain control, they may fire bombardments on the loyalists during their next shooting phase. After which the defense grid is offline. (4) The loyalists place a random number of graviton mine markers during deployment. Half are mines, half are decoys. Ending a move within 9" of a mine triggers it, pulling the triggering unit 2d6" towards the mine. If the unit makes contact with the mine token it explodes and hits all models within 6". (5) Scoring if modified. Traitors get 5VP if they have more units than the loyalists in the loyalist deployment zone at the end of the game (Line units count as two units), 1VP every time a vanguard unit removes the last model in a loyalist unit during melee or shooting (unless expendable), and 2VP for slay the warlord. Loyalists get 5VP for keeping more than 50% of their units alive, 1VP for every traitor walker and vehicle (with 7+ HP) destroyed (unless expendable), and 2VP for slay the warlord. No other conditions award VP. The planetary assault was Sons of Horus (Luna Wolves) + questoris knight, Dark Mechanicum, and Thousand Sons facing off against Solar Auxilia, Raven Guard, and Shattered Legions (mostly Iron Hands). None of the traitors used deep strike although in hindsight I wish I had built my list around it. Midway through the first traitor turn. Notice is given of the Luna Wolves rhino and tactical squad charging forth to clear mines. While the rhino is commended for surviving the entire battle and making it to the loyalist deployment zone, the tactical marines will not be mourned for failing to reach the loyalist lines. There were a few memorable events that stick out for the planetary assault. In no particular order: I had an Arcus and tactical squad fail reserve rolls for the first two turns, managing to roll four 1s. They almost didn't come in on turn 3 either! For reasons, my spartan (with laser destroyers) was nominated to force the middle of the board which meant it was drawing fire from a sicaran venator, laser rapier squads, and a few other high strength guns. It gave a good accounting for itself but was rapidly turned into a wreck on the first loyalist shooting phase. I did decide to gamble on a return fire reaction rather than smoke screen the phase it died. It let me take out the venator, but 2 saves would have kept it alive another turn. Conversely, my Land Raider, which also took a large volume of fire, came through the game unscratched until a dreadnought tickled it on the last turn. That's the luck of the dice. When the spartan was lost it dumped a large unit of cataphractii in the middle of the board. The soaked a crazy amount of fire for two turns but were finally wiped out by dark furies who themselves were wiped out by the Arcus on the last turn. The traitor terminators did great...WHEN they weren't under a status effect. I think there were 4 units that spent at least half the game either suppressed or pinned. This contributed to one flank being held up until the very end and likely kept the traitors from earning at least 1 more VP. The MVP by far was the knight. One side of the board was effectively cleared of loyalists between it and the Mechanicum shooting and it accounted for the majority of the traitor VP. I guess this means I need to put him in queue to finally be painted after many years of sitting in a box! Thousand Sons rumbling with Solar Auxilia and Raven Guard. Just off screen are the Justaerin moving in to assist the Saturnine to get them past the combat with the Veletaris. Unfortunately, both would end up getting delayed by multiple failed status checks afterwards. Final score of the game was a tie with both sides having earned 8 VP. It came down to the very last loyalist thunder hammer attack on a dreadnought. If that had failed the traitors would have pulled off the win. The traitors won all their VP from vanguard kills. The loyalists achieved their 5VP objective of conserving forces and earned 3 more from destroying a spartan, land raider, and dreadnought. It was a fun launch of the campaign. I do wish I was farther along in painting, and that I didn't need to spend as much time looking up rules as I ended up doing. But both of those are fixable for the rest of the campaign.