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I'm going to have to set this up in the basement tonight to get better pics... WORK IN PROGRESS PICS So, the initial considerations were (1) truck space; (2) tournament imposed (convention center space) limit to 12x structural 3x5' bases; (3) man portability; and (4) entering the technical display category. We figured we wouldn't get a structural display spot as they are limited, and really couldn't transport it anyway, so we'd just go in the 3x2 category. So, I set about making the columns with the proxxon foam cutter circle jig (Shifting Lands is a cool shop to check out). I also made the center alter area for Angron. I used crumpled up aluminum foil to texture the columns. This is all new to me and was a learning experience through and through. I should have taken more time to design a complete layout. I don't think it really turned out how I'd hoped. Still, the fog and lighting was a fun effect. Experimentation was necessary before gluing... this is a big thing. It all worked. My initial plans to have fire all around the edge were just cost prohibitive. Most LED string lights are not dense enough for the fake fire effect. In fact this fake fire effect is what is used in many fireplaces. Anyway, I found a video on youtube of a guy making one. I followed it and the fog actually worked... just the LED system didn't give the fire feel. So, I scraped it. The project was nearly lost until the sale on Amazon. $10 for the fog machines, ho! Usually these devices are $30 a piece. They all plug into USB ports, so I had to buy a USB hub too. I ended up buying some bloodletters too as I wanted an unfolding narrative scene. I didn't even realize they'd look cool in the background fires until my teammate JJ set them in there at the hotel during our final prep (this is another case where earlier prep would have helped a lot - putting things down and returning later, or just having friends look at it can really open up creative ideas. In this display as with any creative writing - you need rewrites. The initial idea is rarely complete). The symbol is a little too rough for my taste. It'd be much cooler to have the old oop forgeworld khorne symbol up there. But, time, money, and patience all were wearing very thin. Maybe just building some metal symbol on it and painting it brass would be enough detail. As to the actual stalactites/mites I should have added more. Again without a real plan I think the ritual area is a bit too vague. We ran out of time, but I also wanted to model/convert several improvised explosive devices for the kasrkin to try and detonate and STOP THE RITUAL! Theme - The Flags! Theme is not really scored at the Adepticon Team Tourney, but it's more of a tie-breaker and there's a lot of judge's discretion. It's very important tradition to go hog-wild. Some teams will be dressed as orks, some as raiders, some go shirtless, some in suits, and some as harlequins. Engagement and participation make this a fun tourney. So, we tried more this year. In addition to t-shirts, and my costume, I brought a Guidon/Flag. Ah, brings back fond memories of my former life. And, Campaign streamers are mandatory. My old unit had some wild ones - Battles of Antietam, Leyte, etc. The lineage of units always fascinated me. So, for the narrative here, we have Death Korps Troops in some famous 40k battles. How did they make it off Gryphonne IV? Why were they there in the first place? Enough with the questions. Anyway, I first looked online for campaign streamers and they were like $50 a piece. That's a hard "no." Nope. So, with $2 stencils, $2 ribbons, some brass fittings and an airbrush a made a few to accompany our flag. I'd love to make like a dozen for next year. Octarius, Fenris, Caliban, Baal Secundus, etc. Love it. I had the spelling ready and next to me, double checking as I went. Do. Not. Spell. Armageddon. Wrong. The Narrative pt 2 - In Detail: I had a lot of fun with this, but it ultimately was too small to read. I should have made more copies, or designed it differently. Also, I think it could be re-written a couple of times. The board didn't meet the expectations of the story. I needed an arch-traitor, Apostate Cardinal (yes, very original) in some kind of big cathedral per the original idea. OPERATIONS ORDER AND ASSIGNMENT FOR MANEUVER AND SUPPLY IN SUPPORT OF EDICT: ADEPTICON DISSEMINATION: [BEYOND TOP SECRET // GRADE OMEGA III] Pursuant to Imperial Law this Order is to be “viewed only in the immediate proximity to and presence of an armed Lord Commissar.” Munitorum Code § IENKV 9274657290.2028267.12, subdivision 68, subp. 17(e)(ii). DATED: 999.M41 MISSION: “Bob’s your Uncle” CHAIN OF COMMAND: LORD REGENT; SENATORUM IMPERIALIS; ORDO MALLEUS TORQUEMADA COTEAZ; LORD SOLAR; MISSION COMMANDER COMMAND INTENT: Under pain of death, by the direction of the Lord Regent, Roboute Guilliman, and Senatorum Imperialis, under the direct supervision of the ORDO MALLEUS [-----REDACTED-----] you are hereby commanded to carry out this edict by any means necessary. Under no circumstance and in no possible universe shall any of those excommunicating themselves from his Emperor’s Grace be left alive. Failure in this task mandates summary execution. There are no exceptions. The Officio Prefectus shall be assigned and apprised of said duty. Further, any soldier engendering delay, malingering, or insubordination, in the course of this mission is subject to—at minimum--Servitude Imperpituis. SITUATION REPORT: In support of the edict against ADEPTICON PRIME, your forces are to splinter to the neighboring planet, Armageddon. The Officio Assassinorum reports the Apostate Cardinal Vespasian Moloch has uncovered an ancient alter containing eight points, its fell-mechanism apparently functioning on blood and violence. To this end, the Apostate Cardinal has begun some manner of ritual sacrifice murdering tens of thousands of wanton disciples daily. On the ground, Commissars across dozens of regiments now report full scale mutiny spreading throughout the trenches. All appear consumed by an as yet unknown malady characterized by insatiable rage, bloodshot eyes, and foaming of the mouth, which typically culminates in suicidal violence. Meanwhile, the frontlines remain beset on all sides by traitor and xenos forces alike. As to fleet operations, several sector fleets have converged to repel the Despoiler’s latest incursion. All available ships have engaged in desperate ship-to-ship combat for three straight weeks. Despite brutal casualties, the Despoiler continues his assault. No relief is possible to the ground forces. And, though the Lord Regent has mustered a retribution fleet off Port Maw, warp travel is presently almost impossible. Over 1000 Astropaths in the sector are reported dead or incoherent. Prior to summary execution, virtually all are reported to have stuttered a single word incessantly: “Angron.” Terra cannot relieve the forces of Armageddon in time to prevent the culmination of this ritual. The Ordo Malleus is convinced beyond certainty this ritual is intended to manifest the Demon Traitor-Primarch Angron of the XIIth Legion. Should this happen, it is the end of the Imperium. Thus, at Dawn tomorrow Sector Command has coordinated a frontal assault across all battlelines of 100 million men. Casualties are estimated at 98.8%. Your mission is then, under the cover of this assault, to stop the ritual. COORDINATION: Accompanying units are set to breach the enemy lines. Their mission is a “thunder run” led personally by Lord Solar Leontus. They are to stop at nothing causing as much damage and disorientation as possible to cover your mission. No reinforcements or supplies are expected or possible. Their sole directive is to breach the lines as far as possible to facilitate your delivery to (and breach of) the ritual site. Each Battle Tank is fitting with 5,000 pounds of man-portable explosives for detonation at the site. In concert, the Officio Assassinorum seeks to deliver a thermo-nuclear device. Tech priests are blessing the devices already. 12 Krieg Siege Artillery Regiments are standing by to initiate the creeping barrage, synchronized at each half-hour. DESIGNATION: Identification “888th Execution Company” ORDERS: Mission Commander, While onboard the Frigate Eisengard Secundus you are to consolidate units into what is now deemed the 888th Execution Company. The Ship’s Quartermaster division is directed to make all efforts to assist you to rally men and material to staging point ALPHA III. Refer any unfit units to Officio Prefectus for remediation, and airlock removal. Opening orbital cyclonic salvos are set for time synchronization at DAWN. Planetfall is to be made at Coordinates ZULU 8970 0867 6289 1019. Reconnoiter with 1st Army local command by ZERO + 00:60:00. During the frontal assault, commence the thunder run, proceeding along assault route ROMEO VI to the Traitor Command Spire. Accompanying units will breach through the citadel and terminate the Arch-Traitor Cardinal with extreme prejudice, by any means necessary, and without delay [See Attached Dossier on Apostate Cardinal]. Aeronautica Imperialis has identified the entrance to the caverns housing the ritual site as 500 Meters to the SE. Coordinate with the 24th Forward Engineer Company, 5th Siege Regiment, to breach the caverns containing the ritual site. Kasrkin teams are to detonate the site preventing the manifestation of the Demon-Primarch. There is no time, opportunity to reach across enemy lines, or forces available for a second mission. You are the only option. If you fail, the Imperium is lost. MISSION PARAMETERS: This mission cannot be cancelled by any means and must proceed at any costs. Suspicion is deemed proof beyond doubt of complicity and guilt. Leave none alive. Casualties must not delay efforts or fall into enemy hands. Terminate without hesitation. No one reading this document leaves the field alive. No one coming within 500 meters of the ritual, or Apostate Cardinal or who has seen the Cardinal or ritual can leave the field alive. No evidence of the Apostate’s operations may fall into enemy or friendly hands. Burn after reading.

Narrative Army List. I wanted an actual story to accompany the board. Getting the lore to match up to my armies is more difficult than one would think. Why is Agrippina supplying this? Why is Krieg part of this mission? Anyway, the basic narrative is that Angron is being summoned on Armageddon. I've got the whole thing written out, but in short - 10's of thousands sacrificed in blood daily. Full Divisions are going mad and in open rebellion. Thousands of psykers mind's have exploded (the classic astropath found on the ground, stuttering one word repeatedly before he dies... "Angron"). Lord Solar launches a full frontal assault 100 million strong, on all fronts. Meanwhile, under the cover of the assault, as the aeronautica imperialis have discovered the location of the summoning ritual, Kasrkin forces seek to breach the cave system and kill the apostate cardinal conducting the ritual. They'll detonate the nuclear device if they fail (sector imperialis objective marker). Guilliman himself is raising a fleet off port Maw, but it'll be too late. Spoiler... Angron makes it into reality. Ultimately the print was too small. I should have made more copies for people to read. Well, I suppose I could find bigger paper, or just glue stick some sheets together? Stamp. So I had a custom stamp made for Excommunicate Traitoris. This rubber stamp was hard because I had to clean up any grey-scale on the symbol. I'm not tech saavy. This took a while. But it worked. I love the final product. The ongoing joke of the tournament was teammate John attempting to excommunicate the judge during judging. Obviously this is ridiculous. We had fun anyway. Wax Seals. I'd wanted to use wax seals on an army list for a long time. I use them for wedding cards. Now it's time for 40k. So, I ordered some pins/badges, and also had some stamps made off Etsy. Super easy to work with and easy process. Also, coffee and lemon juice is a great mix to stain the paper. It gives a nice age to it. I put that mix in the spray bottle at 150-200 degrees and sprayed it on the paper. Unfortunately printing on paper outside of a 8.5x11 sheet is apparently rather difficult. So while I'd have preferred something like a scroll, I'm stuck with what I have (for now...). Also, it'd be cool to actually seal a letter that the judge must open. I'm still working out how I want to do it next time. So, we have the signature stamp of the Lord Regent, the Cardinals Palantine, the Fabricator General (signed in binary code), and Departmento Munitorum. My personal favorite touches: The first line of the Operations Order - DISSEMINATION: [BEYOND TOP SECRET // GRADE OMEGA III] Pursuant to Imperial Law this Order is to be “viewed only in the immediate proximity to and presence of an armed Lord Commissar.” Munitorum Code § IENKV 9274657290.2028267.12, subdivision 68, subp. 17(e)(ii). The name of the Abbess Sanctorum (I need to start a sisters army now)- Hatred Dos Vorden, of the Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Vengeance. The seal of the ecclesiarchy - CASUS BELLUM Just Cause, and Holy Righteousness Thrice Reviewed; Thrice Deemed Beyond Refutation; Under pain of Death, Adeptus Ministorum Official Signet Seal BY: By Cardinals Palantine, Unanimous; And Ecclesiarch Theodacus V with Special Concurrence Noted in Verdict: "There can be but one Emperor, one God, one Saviour, one Deliverer. Without Him, a billion billion souls are nought but fodder for the ever-thirsting evils of the Warp." Going Forward Pt. 2 - the Next Display. Tyranids. Ok, next years' design. I have a Bellicosa volcano cannon. I could retry the rail gun idea. ...I could just build a warlord titan. But, I think an anti-ship cannon could be the center piece. I'd also like to add Hydra Flakk turrets. While the team doesn't want to do Guard in 2024, I still think they'd be a good antagonist for the theme. If it's a tyranid invasion, I do worry about (1) painting a whole new army. I actually played tyranids back in about 2002. No idea what happened to that army, probably collecting dust in some strange garage somewhere. Next I worry about (2) coordinating paint schemes. Winter Setting. I've long dreamed of a mawlock bursting through the ice... But what scheme will this fit? Also I worry (3) that since a new range refresh is coming in the summer, I can't start a collection now. And, that leads to back to problem (1) how are we going to paint a whole army? Conversions are a must. Cinematic scenes are a must. And, doing ice/winter is new to me. Time to learn something new? I like the idea of The Thing - finding a space craft in the ice. Though I think Necrons might do that easier. I'm not sure I can sculpt a tyranid ship... Jungle Setting. Then again, I like the idea of a jungle fight - maybe a big temple in the jungle overrun by tyranids, like Aliens v. Predator. Of course any new settings will mean my krieg antagonists aren't based correctly. I kind of like the idea of a genestealer cult tectonic fragdrill boring into some kind of ancient chamber. City Fight. I've got imperial fists in city/rubble bases. Maybe the centerpiece could be inside a city, or walled area. What about my Krieg Costume? Hmmmm. Maybe muddy streets can be tied in with rubble? Maybe keep a trench or two :). I will say I have a lot of mechanicus terrain that could fit this well. So that's an easy-ish transition to this setting. Thanks for reading.

Krieg Display Board 2023. Spotlights. This year I wanted spotlights. The forgeworld version are long OOP, and when they show up on ebay every other year they're about $50+. Zinge makes great spotlights. However, I also need a stand for the spotlight. Kromlech makes a great heavy weapon base with a tri-pod. It's a bit too tall for my liking, but it'll work. I chose to put it on a 65mm base because I wanted to hook up electrical. I gave it a quick zenithal with the airbrush on Castellan green working up a bit with layer colors. Importantly I had to drill out the wiring holes prior to assembling the battery and LED components (only the wires would fit through drilled holes, not the LED or buttons). I set the button up on the base itself as the base isn't deep enough to hide everything. So there's a little push button on top there. Evans designs for electrical - works perfect. I'm sure if one was tech saavy it could be constructed cheaper than a pre-made kit. And they Work! Sand Bags! Way cheaper than green stuff. Roll out logs. cut small bits. Depress those bits with cloth for texture. Cut the sides and add a little flair for the cinched opening of the sand bag. Board Construction. Basically it's the same as last year. I'm not happy with that, but it's a practical reality. I put a lot of effort into the altantic wall/maginot line style defense, but it still reads very similar to last year. If I'd started earlier in the year, I might have had more time to think over what works and what doesn't. A vision rarely matches the actual product. Oh well. Experimentation doesn't always work out. I didn't have time to run planks down the trenches, so it's lacking some detail too (though this can be added now). I will say I do l like the texture more this year. Wood glue and sand - not mixing in plaster as it looks too sloppy. Rather, plaster ended up looking like plaster, and I want this to look like sand. I have no doubt there are many great recipes for mud and dirt out there in the diorama world. I think I also want to experiment with some grass and trees for more detail. Getting ready for judging! Hi everybody! Here's me. I finally went off the deep end and and joined the costume club. I'll post separately on that. So, this was an early morning. We'd stayed up very late and worked hard hours leading into it. I'd made most of the board, and brought it down to finish at the hotel. The team really stepped up and helped slather some paint all over the board for me. I was too far behind to finish it alone. For the team tournament there's judging starting at 7 am and 12 noon. We go with the morning spot because it's easier to get situated in the morning instead of after game 1 at lunch time when everybody is moving around. It's chaos at noon. However, noon is also when all the hobby stars, youtubers and games workshop is walking about. The fun part of the day is looking across hundreds of gaming tables and seeing the zepplin still standing on the sidewall. Lots and lots of players are really great, and come over to introduce themselves to get pictures.

Krieg Diorama 2023 Ok, still catching up to where we are presently. So, back to the making of the board itself. Constraints/limitations. Space. Firstly, space is an issue. I'll need to transport this by vehicle. My truck only fits so much. I have to drive 7 hours to Adepticon. It's cramped. I have a truck bed, but March does not have pleasant weather in Minnesota/Wisconsin/Illinois. Rules. Second, the rules of the tournament only allow certain sizes. I suppose each tournament is different. For the Adepticon Team Tournament, we have three categories of display, traditional 3'x2', technical 3'x2' and structural - 5'x3'. I've always wanted to do the 5x3, but it won't fit in a single vehicle in my situation (gear, bags, paints, printer). With a bed cover in the back of the truck, maybe it'd fit, but it's also a large liability for moving around in stops and starts. Still, this isn't a tournament of strict/harsh rules. You probably could build whatever and they'd be happy to see hobby effort. I can't imagine they'd throw us out for a size infraction. Still, there were awards for each category in 2022 and 2019. So, crossing into the wrong category could mean untenable competition against larger 5x3 boards. Models. Third, we have model constraints. We've got 4 team members, each with 1000 points. 3x2 is not big enough. So, my board from 2022 and this year is going to feature 2 levels. I mean we could have every model on the board, but it'd be so tightly packed there'd be virtually no interesting terrain whatsoever. It'd simply be a textured flat board. So, using multiple levels is the only way I can see to fit the rules. Well, we'd thought about a vertical board with every model magnetized, but this has all kinds of problems of it's own. That design might be a great void combat board - like space marines walking on the outside of a ship, or on a moon. Design. Bunker. The problem this year was trying to avoid repetitiveness of doing Death Korps of Krieg again. I love the trenches, so they'll stay. But, I'm adding a bunker. I liked the atlantic wall style bunker and gave it my best shot. With a proxxon hot wire table, and the circle cutter jig, I was able to make concentric circles for the gun emplacement design. The circles were fatter/thicker than I'd like, but due to time constraints they were good enough to move on. The bunker will need gun shot holes, and chip damage (also some rusty rebar sticking out of any damage is a great effect). I've experimented with camo netting, but am still not satisfied. That needs a rethink. Too WW2? Maybe go more gothic? Hmmm... Turret. Also, I wanted to include elements similar to the Maginot line. So, I went about a second experiment with a moveable gun turret. It's supposed to be a retractable turret - it pops up to fire, and sinks down to load. That said, I left the guns sticking out even though this is impractical, as I figured many would not realize this is a gun turret without the guns showing. I'd like to add more of a base for it, so it has more detail. I'm also thinking of scraping it and just adding a hydra turret... That might look better anyway. ...also should have designed a ring for it to be seated in. Little details add a lot. I still like the concept, but I think execution needs more. Layout. The team wanted smoke effects in the trenches again, so I caved and made a crater to pipe in a fog machine. I did want to redesign the trench works, maybe run a communication trench too. And, instead of two opposing trenches as a theme, this year is one defensive trench system being overrun. And, I think I actually want the krieg overrunning the bad guys. So, I'm looking to get some chaos stencils from Fallout Hobbies. I love that old forge world renegade stuff that had rusty eight pointed stars on it. In hindsight I should have paid a lot more time and attention to the design. I'm not thrilled with it spatially. Like at least each table quarter should have something to draw the eye, if not every inch of the table. So, here I've got a somewhat interesting right side and just plan no-man's land on the left. I think tree stumps, water filled craters, or even a destroyed bunker might help fill it out. *note, it's a lot easier to cut trenches and craters before gluing sections on... carving out three layers deep takes much more time. *also note, should have labelled these as it became a huge mess...