Company Master Dragutin - fully painted + Librarians galore!

Hi Readers,

So in complete deviation from my to-do list (I promise - mostly to myself I will get back on it again soon!) I have painted Dragutin, the leader of the Black Hands of Caliban. I was far to pleased with myself after finishing his conversion that I had to start slapping some paint on him. His armour is a very grey black, I'm hoping this (along with stature) will really make him pop on the battle field as he leads the Black Hands. I have several sections of fluff noted out for Dragutin and other aspects of the Black Hands of Caliban so hope to share them with you soon.

The basecoat layers before a wash in nuln oil.

And here he is with his magnetised column on! Just so I can take it off and admire his paint work :P

Librarian Conclave

I have in the past always avoided psychic powers, I just wanted to get really up on game mechanics when I got back into the hobby so I avoided the psychic area of the rules to cut out some work and get back into the swing of things. Since then this has stuck, especially with collecting the Black Templars as my first army after I'd really got back into the hobby (With Dark Eldar being my first first army), so no psykers at all there!

After painting up the Tamriel the Librarian the other day just because it was a cool model, I looked in to including him, in my army and then came across the Dark Angels Librarian conclave. I know the space marine codex has a slightly better version but that's a discussion for another day!

For those who don't know this formation is Ezekiel and 2-4 additional Librarians. At the beginning of the psychic phase a librarian can be nominated, this librarian can use the powers of any other librarian within 12 inches of him. Those librarians cannot cast any powers in that psychic phase. The powers cast by the nominated librarian will manifest on 3+ instead of 4+ for each warp charge. And in this formation the primaris power from the Dark Angels interromancy is doubled to 24 inches if taken. 

Interromancy's primaris power is Mind Worm, this is a focussed witchfire power that is Strength 6, AP2, Ignores cover, Assault 1 and Sap Will. Sap will means that if any model takes an unsaved wound from Mind Worm, its weapon skill, ballistic skill, initiative and leadership are reduced by 3 for the rest of the game. Wraithknight with ballistic skill 1 and striking after my marines? Don't mind if I do! Dreadknight can get in there as well!

So with this jumping around my brain I began searching through my large bag of mystery model from job lot bits buys and lo and behold I had a librarian with a broken staff but otherwise complete, and another librarian just missing a backpack and left arm. So here are two additional ones to add to Tamriel. I have ordered a Scibor lion knight to make into an Ezekiel (not a huge fan of the static pose of the GW one) and I will be purchasing one of their biker knights to convert into another librarian.

F*&^ing magnets! (how do they work - if you get this reference you're as bad a human being as I am)

This guy still needs a left shoulder pad but I'll paint and glue it on separately. 

The idea is that the jump pack and the biker librarians can move fast and share offensive powers with Mind Worm being the doozy. The biker will have the shroud of heroes for a 2+ jink and a 4++ from his conversion field.  The jump pack marine will have a squad of 10 assault marines as bodyguard plus a conversion shield. This will make them nice and durable. Ezekiel and the other 2 librarians can sit with the gun line squads and share defensive powers to provide things like invulnerable saves, shrouding and even the dirty invisibility.

If you hadn't already guessed, these guys will be with my Demi-company formation that is taking form both in a physical sense and in a tactical sense. I'm rounding out my thinking of how I want to play them, it will have a weakness of no flyers, but I'm used to that and think it should do OK. I will have a post up at some point detailing my intended use of them along with how I will ally some Ravenwing into my Death Company lists. 

Taking Pictures

So I don't hide that I'm not a terrible good photographer. Or rather I don't put in enough effort to my photos as I should, I think we can all take pretty decent photos if we try. I'm not putting in as much effort as I should but I am trying bit by bit to make them decent for your consumption! So taking advice from Greg (you all know who I mean!) I've got the based version of Tamriel below with a different lighting set up. Thoughts on the basing scheme I've chosen plus the quality of the photos themselves would be appreciated :). (obviously the photos above are taken with the same set up, but I wanted to show this guy off again).

I have decided to ask my family to bunch together and get me a foldio 2 for my birthday present as I don't feel I can justify the spend at the moment but I really would like to give you guys better pictures with which to help my painting improve! So watch this space.

Thats all for today, see you soon for some more of my incoherent rambles and poor quality photos!

Peace out,

Rob

Dark Angels Quickshoot Review - Part 1 - Special Rules, Relics Warlord Traits 2+ And Special Characters

Hi Readers,

Because I'm now getting really into painting my new Dark Angels army project (hobby butterfly!!) I've decided to do a quick whizz through review of the Dark Angels codex so that I can wrap my head round their rules better by setting them down in digital ink as it were. I'm not going to cover every unit in this book, just the unique things about it, such as relics, special characters and unique units. So without further ado lets jump on in!

Special Rules

Grim Resolve - This grants the model the ability to fire overwatch at ballistic skill 2, fantastic! Virtually every unit has this rule. Also grants stubborn (Thanks Corrm)

Deathwing - Grants fearless and hatred (chaos space marines). Both fairly redundant unless you are facing chaos space marines in which case its very useful indeed. All deathwing units have this as well as company masters. These guys can also split fire and have twin linked weapons on the turn they arrive from deep strike. Tasty. 

Ravenwing - A model with this rule can re-roll jink saves. Just ravenwing specific units and not conferred by taking a bike on an independent character sadly.

That's it really other than normal space marine rules. The real juice of this section is the grim resolve as every unit has it so you can really plan around using that ability without having to select specific units. The ravenwing re-rolling jink saves is an absolute nightmare for anyone without good amounts of high strength AP3 to take care of any sizeable squad of bikers. 

Relics of the Unforgiven

OK, so what do the Dark Angels have up their sleeves? Other than an STC for the nephilim jetfighters that they aren't sharing, oooh heresy burn!

Foe Smiter - An assault 4, shred, mastercrafted storm bolter. A very good price for what it does, especially if you are overwatching at BS2+ or more!

Lion's Roar - Foe Smiter's big brother. A mastercrafted combi-plasma where the plasma component is an assault 1 blast weapon. This will help thin out elite units before a charge to finish them off. Mastercrafted should mitigate the gets hot for a no worries plasma experience. Only 24 inch range but enough to not be worrying about back scatter onto you if you aren't going to charge them, bit touch and go if you are! Good value overall, not under priced either.

Mace of Redemption - +3 strength power weapon with blind, concussive and is AP1 against chaos space marine. Well priced for the extra strength and rules with the AP1 against chaos marines a nice little bonus if you play them. This is an excellent option for any character likely to get stuck in, obvious lack of AP2 but you aren't paying through the nose for it. 

Monster Slayer of Caliban - the worst of the bunch. Roll a D6, on a 1-2 its a regular power sword. 3-4 grants +1 strength, 5-6 grants +2 strength and instant death. More expensive than the Mace of redemption and not as good even on the best roll I feel. You will wound more often with the Mace and it will work that way in every game.

Shroud of Heroes - An absolute steal at two melta bombs in price. This grants the bearer feel no pain and shrouded if they aren't in a unit. Stick it on a bike mounted character with a conversion field and watch them jink away most of their troubles. Work especially well with Librarians wielding offensive powers that have short range. 

The Eye of the Unseen - Grants the bearer fear and preferred enemy special rules. Fear is mostly redundant and preferred enemy is nice, but this isn't great value for what you get. Those points could be better spent I think.

This section has some nice trinkets in the ranged, melee and buffing roles, much better selection than many other codices army special weapons. Pick for me is the Shroud of Heroes with the Mace and Lion's Roar joint second.

Warlord Traits

The Hunt - Grants the Warlord precision shots and ignores cover. Very meh I think given the special characters that have it aren't massively geared for shooting. A bum roll. 

Courage of the First Legion - Fearless and as are all units in 12 inches. Stubborn space marines do not need this. 

For the Lion - Warlord and his unit have furious charge in an army clearly geared to shooting as a preference. Good if you have equipped your warlord for combat but you can't bank on getting this trait!

Brilliant Planning - Gives you a +/- 1 to reserve rolls. Great to get, one of the picks of these traits, again chance though if not taking Azrael (who I will discuss in a later post). 

Rapid Manoeuvre - Can add +3 inches to maximum move for flat-out, turbo boost, run and charge moves. If you want this trait, just take Sammael (below). But joint top trait with Brilliant Planning.

Hold at all Costs - Grants feel no pain when in 3 inches of an objective. Good, but nothing to write home about especially when you chance getting other bum traits rolling for this.

Special Characters

Belial - Terminator armoured with a stat line of a Captains with an extra attack (if memory serves). His unit don't scatter on deep striking and Belial re-rolls to hit rolls in a challenge. Has a mastercrafted, fleshbane power sword and a storm bolter. He can swap these for a thunder hammer and storm shield or two lightening claws. His warlord trait is the Hunt. Force the price of 190 he is not worth it in my opinion unless you are really running a deathwing themed force. He's not weak, he just cost a little bit too much for 3 wounds without eternal warrior for my taste. You can get a company master with a relic blade and artificer armour for 70 points less... thereabouts. That's a whole other squad.

Sammael - Captain stat line with an extra point in toughness and only a 3+ save. He does however have eternal warrior! Only character in the book to be so blessed actually. He's also fearless, has skilled rider, the ravenwing special rule, hit and run, hatred (chaos space marines),  and scout! He has a plasma cannon... twin linked storm bolter, iron halo and teleport homer. He has an additional special rule called Swift vengeance which allows him to fire two weapons in the shooting phase. His Raven Sword is strength user (4) and AP2 at initiative as well as master crafted. He also actually has a bolt pistol so gets the +1 attack for 2 CCW's. This guy is  steal, and I am coming round to his styling, probably because I now own one... His warlord trait is rapid manoeuvre. Well worth his points at 200.

Sableclaw - Oh yeah... Sammael can also opt to take a 14 14 10 land speeder with twin linked assault cannons and heavy bolter. I honestly don't know why you would ever take this option... also 200.

Asmodia - An interrogator chaplain that grants you D3 victory points if he slays the enemy warlord. With his power maul. Great model but the rules just do not fulfil unfortunately. Also has the Hunt as Warlord trait and preferred enemy chaos space marines. Oh and has the Blades of Reason, strength user instant death but also AP - so, ehh, mehh, naaahhh. Costs 140 points, buy a regular interrogator chaplain instead and tool as desired. 

Ezekiel - 2+ save, 3 wounds BS5 WS5 and 3 attacks. Master crafted bolt pistol and Force Sword as well as a psychic hood Mastery level 3, has usual choice of powers as well. He has the Book of Salvation which grants +1 to Dark Angel models within 6 inches, nice but not really useful. He is however excellent access to mastery level 3 on a 2+ save, but a lack of an invulnerable or eternal warrior means he needs to have meat shields to protect him! Warlord trait is Courage of the First Legion so mostly pointless. Costs 145 points, great for the extra mastery levels. 

Well that's a quick run down of these sections. Think differently? Comment below :)

Peace out,

Rob

Converted Age of Sigmar Dark Angel Captain of the Lion Guard

Hi Readers,

I was all geared up to get back to painting my Death Company today until I sat down, opened the pot of khorne red and it back flipped out of my hand and all over my tshirt. So, ruined tshirt and no paint!!! So in a quandary I decided to do some idle conversion work. I'm not a massive fan of the Company Master model that comes with Dark Vengeance and which I got in my bundle buy, so I thought I would make use of the Lion imagery on the Age of sigmar models to make a cool looking HQ. 

Scale shot with dark vengeance librarian, forge world apothecary conversion, sigmarine

There is still plenty of green stuff to tidy up on the model but I really like him so far. I've started writing a little fluff to go with him that I will expand upon in a future post I'm sure. Anyway, thoughts welcome!

I'm already deviating from my to-do list.... Damn it!

Peace out,

Rob 

Dark Angels Librarian - Fastest update I will ever do!

Hi Readers

Well. This is Awkward with a capital A. My last post was only about 3 hours ago so I feel like a bit of an attention seeker posting so soon after! But in my last post I showed you a little sneaky peek of my Dark Angels Librarian on my painting desk. I had planned to sit down watch some TV then go to bed. I then decided to do a final 15 minutes painting on the Librarian....

And I was so proud of my 3 hours of work that I had to chuck some pictures out to you. There will be more in the future as he has to have his base completed but I am seriously pleased with how this guy came, much more than I was expecting to be honest. He'll have to make his mark in a game now!

Peace out,

Rob

More Death Company and To-do list update

Hi Readers,

Another quick fire post from me today. I've had a productive adult day tidying the house and cleaning after a fairly imbibed weekend. But I found time to sit down and file and clean the front and backs for 10 jump packs and 20 shoulder pads for my next batch of death company, who have no been built! I also re-jigged my working space so that it was less haphazardly piled and had at least a slight cohesive sense of what I was doing next (With a few options available if I am bored of that!).

So here is a some pictures of the 10 new Death Company that are drying from black primer as I type:

I'm very happy with how they look even with the older metal sculpts. I'm particularly pleased there is a showing from a couple of good old beaky helms!

And I sat down this evening with one figure to get it going. This was the Librarian from the Dark Vengeance box which came with my Dark Angel horde recently. Here is a deliberately far away sneak peek picture for you of him just after basecoating. More pictures to follow later in the week (Well, I've got to keep you keen haven't I!).

And finally, for all those interested here are some pictures of my work shop bedroom!

To-do Pile

So in my current to do pile I have, hopefully in the order they will get done:

1 Dark Angel Librarian

5 Death Company that have already been started

10 Death Company that have been primed

5 Dark Angels Veterans (waiting on their shoulder pads to get started on painting)

Build 10 more Death Company

5 Sanguinary Guards (looking forward to painting these)

Paint the last 10 Death Company (Then they will all be done!!!)

Paint a Blood Angel Drop pod in red scheme for furioso dreadnought.

That is supposed to take me up to Christmas pretty much.

I'll re-evaluate what I want to get done and how successful this was after christmas presents! But till then I hope this excites you all for what I will be getting done. I will also be attending Blog Wars X in November which promises to be fantastic and is also a good motivator for getting stuff done!

Till next time,

Peace out,

Rob

Dark Angels Veteran Squad- converted/kitbashed

Hi readers,

I'm taking a little break (i.e. this weekend) from painting after I hit a bit of burn out on the Death Company, and I still have 25 of them to build and paint in various amounts! So this weekend will be all about building new things, and therefore my room has been very blue today due to my ineptitude with super glue and converting in general, and as such expletives have very much filled the room as I scream at inanimate objects.

Below is a squad of Dark Angel Veterans equipped with Storm Shield and Power axe, I know its no competitive but it looks cool! And because I'm aware of that, I magnetised the arms! My first sort of squad sized level of magnetising hence the swearing. These guys can then double has a Command Squad when I have the arms all built for them. Plus ROBOTIC ARMS!

The little bits of fluted dowel will be painted as broken columns on a dark grit floor that will have green vegetation applied to it as the Greenwing section of the army creep through the rotted remains of a bio-dome on a Hive world that is beginning to fall to a chaos cult.

They still need some Angel specific pauldrons on the left arm, which I am awaiting from Wayland games, I've gone for some cool Scibor miniature ones that are very angel of death likey.

Comments always welcome!

Peace out,

Rob