English Civil War
After setting up my ECW lists on a table (parade-style) the other day (Friday), I got so enthused by the sight of their display that I actually decided do some work on my Royalist list languishing on my hobby desk.
Sticking with my original listing of Cary's Horse, Prince Rupert's Horse, Northern Horse, Prince Maurice's Dragoons, and Queen's Horse. Staying with my modified four-stand cavalry unit style (for Royalist at least) with 2 figures per stand. It's the representation rather than the historically accurate simulation that's more important to me at the moment.
Also going to simply plant the unit's standard/cornet into the base instead of devoting one single converted rider for that. Necessity is forcing this approach which I personally don't mind. Will have to see if it pans out. It already does so in my mind, but you know how it is with what's imagined and what is real sometimes.
Decided to add another Parliamentarian cavalry unit that's long intrigued me - Hasselrig's Cuirassers. Have enough cuirassiers to achieve this.
Spent today (Saturday) away from the PC and it was a glorious day to be honest. I actually sorted out the bases - using light craft wood from Bunnings. Attached these to the assembled cavalry and flocked a couple for visual impact. Happy with the result so will continue once the PVA glue dries out fully on the rest of them.
Will then make a start on the Royalist artillery and attendant Firedrakes.
Finally, need to add the pikes for the Royalist pikemen. Hastily assembled the foot first without mounting them with pikes.
Then it's on to the promised fine detailing on several units and individuals before mass flocking both sides. Hope to have some finished shots over the coming days/weeks in time for their "march out parade" where loads of pretty photos will taken. Cheers.
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Sunday was a relaxing day doing some more ECW work. Grabbed the Royalist infantry to flock and do some finishing detailing.
From left to right: one of the Royalist wing commanders (Sir Marmaduke Langdale, commanding the Royalist Left Wing comprising Cary's Horse and the "Northern Horse"). Behind him are two aides/couriers who will be attached to Prince Rupert, the Royalist army commander.
Then begins the infantry lineup. First is Tiller's Foot. Next to them is the King's Foot, then Prince Rupert's Foot. Both units form the Reserve commanded by Charles I. Duke of York's Foot (red and black standard) is next. It belongs, along with Tiller's Foot, to Lucas' tertio which is part of the Centre Wing commanded by Lord Astley.
Above shows the Hopton's Foot (red flag) along with Talbot's Foot and Bard's Foot. Talbot's Foot is an add-on and will most likely join the reserve. The other two foot units below to Bernard Astley's tertio, also part of Lord Astley's Centre Wing.
Unit above is Hasselrig's Cuirassiers, one of the Parliament's elite units formed from spare figures.
With the cavalry it was first organising them into proper units which was done yesterday. Today was painting the bases a base green before flocking. Then base coated the individual horse - burnt umber for the troopers, white/grey for trumpeter, black for officer.
Next stage will be to individually paint the numerous figures accordingly. Basecoated those unpainted a quick matt white for now. Will return to these next weekend.
Below unit will likely be Queen's Horse.
Above image shows a mostly flocked unit which is Cary's Horse. Behind it will be either Northampton's Horse or Washington's Dragoons.
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Wet weather set in strong today (Monday) meant more hobby time. Further work on the Royalist cavalry done. Slow progress though. Realised that really cheap-ass craft paints are really shit hobby paints and should be avoided at all costs. But I persevere because I can and because I have boxes of thee cheap-ass craft paints. Of course, some craft paints are better than others. But nothing beats proper hobby paints which I have but would rather save for other models.
Priority today was flocking the bases. Rather than detail everything and then flock, as one might do so normally, I decided to do it in reverse order. A change I was determined to action because I ad done so with the Royalist infantry and wanted to continue with the cavalry. One less thing to worry about later.
Trio of photos above in descending order: Image 1 - Cary's Horse (Royalist), Hasselrig's Cuirassiers (Parliament); Image 2 - Northern Horse & Queen's Horse (Royalist); Image 3 - Washington's Dragoons & Prince Rupert's Horse (both Royalist).
With the rain expected to settle in for the next few days, am hoping to finally get this lot completed. Then I can make a start on the Royalist artillery and firedrakes.
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WIP status. Nearly done. Next major effort will be the cavalry standards.
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Turn of the Parliamentarian force to get the flocking treatment. Once all done - flocking and final detailing, it's the turn of the Royalist artillery and firedrakes.
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World of Warships
Last night's (Friday/Saturday) all-nighter was long but worthwhile as it allowed a pleasant change from my usual routine of daily grinding a few hours. I actually got some tabletop modelling done at a leisurely pace for once. Welcome change in routine.
As stated, last night I finally finished off the Dockyard event and scored the new Tier IX premium German destroyer ZH-1. Will most likely take out for her maiden sea trials over the next few days.
Haven't bothered to read the latest devblog for Update 15.3 or 15.5. Not really interested to be honest. Feeling quite flat about the game and have been feeling so for a while now. Will participate in whatever event WG has lined up but not interested in knowing beforehand as to what's on offer. Perhaps for the best.
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Today was a quiet grind Monday. Did enough to earn the Event Pass bonus then logged out. Played Marblehead, Prins van Oranje, Exeter. Doing so to continue my commander upskill grind.
Interesting ship is Exeter. A Tier V premium, it does enough damage with both HP & AP. Torps are useful when played well although they are slow. Useful that they can fire singly or as a spread which is good for surprising an enemy that is quite maneouvrable. No smoke but she has hydro. And her guns are deterrent enough for all but the strongest battleships. Make sure to angle her whether kiting or angling in to prolong your life.
Marblehead is just another Omaha. Nothing unique other than her guns can do some damage to any unsuspecting cruisers presenting broadside. And her torps are slightly better than Exeter but it's her guns I like. Fairly reasonable reload.
As for the Prins van Oranje, its twelve guns can molest any ship it chooses to target. And her bombers can whittle down an enemy ship's HP foolish enough to park behind an island. As I did with two ships on one map today - took out at AL Cheshire in that manner, and then an Iowa (which had half health left when bombers made their run).
Tomorrow it's the turn of Graf Spee, Kamikaze R, K. Schonberg, Viribus Unitis, P. E. Friedrich. Time to see how they perform as I aim for either the Event Pass bonus or daily Coal loot boxes (all three).
Rinse and repeat. Rinse and repeat. Rinse and bloody repeat.
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Quiet Wednesday. Tired but played nonetheless. Ran Kamikaze, Narai, Leipzig today.
Leipzig has strong AP. It's 10km torps are good for area denial and forcing enemy ships into your killing zone. The other two are familiar to me and I simply played them to their strengths. More of the same tomorrow with the same ships.
Next Dockyard event kicks off tomorrow. Playing for the steel but not too fussed if I miss out.
Yeah, the next Update 15.4 features changes that will appeal to those with cash to spend. But for the rest of us, it's wait until Christmas for a chance at these overpriced ships. Expect to fork out over AUD100 per new ship, in some cases, more. So, no thanks. I will slowly grind for the daily loot rewards and resources.
I get to try out Operations once more (one of the next Dockyard mission tasks). Know of recent changes so keen to see what and how.
Asymmetrics is being withdrawn...again. A popular mode, it's now been nerfed in terms of rewards while the foe are now stronger and more AI independent. Which means you have to play more carefully instead of simply charging in guns a-blazing away as you might have done in the past.
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Lol. WG's Update 15.4 kicked in properly today. Hard pass for me. So nothing new to report apart from continued commander upskill grind. Same ships as yesterday.
New Event pass. New Dockyard missions. Same-old same-old. Summa summa. Rinse and repeat. Mind switched off.
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Lol. The Hunt for Bismarck freebie enticed me enough to grab the Bounty Hunter bundle. Active for 24 hours or until you complete specific mission attached to it. Only thing is I will be playing Co-Op until it expires. See what unfolds.
Played both the Leipzig and Narai. Really comfortable with the latter. Still reacquainting myself with the former which I haven't played in a long while.
Yay, the weekend is almost upon us.
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After a weekend of no play due to internet suddenly crashing and waiting for service person to call today (Monday), I noticed one thing - nothing bloody changed. Played both Narai and Leipzig to complete two of the Dockyard mission tasks. Another four to go.
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Naval Wargaming (not WOWS)
Keen to get back to some historical naval wargaming. Plenty of scenarios from the various rulesets I own that I'm keen to test out. Finding both the time and re-familiarising myself with the rulesets has always been the problem to which there is no real long-term solution apart from making time and playing as often as I possibly can. If I can do this with my WOWS (more out of habit rather than desire), I can do the same with my tabletop wargaming hobbies which have been badly neglected for such a long time now.
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One Page Rules
Been looking for a way to recycle my existing Warhammer 40K and Fantasy figures dusting away on my shelving. This might be a way to do so having just been introduced to this ruleset by a comment on my local hobby blogsite forum.
I do like that they offer 3D printed models (and the files too) so the cost of minis are reasonably priced for the average wargamer.
I already know of Kings of War but never really cliqued to it when it first came out (I was still enamoured with GW's 8th edition at the time). Mind you, I was also testing out other rulesets over time such as Dragon Rampant as my devotion to GW waned and then died.
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SurrounDead
Been playing offline since we lost internet before the weekend. Things of note in playing off-line.
(1) Don't open multiple laptops and then die. You will lose all those "golden opportunities" which is either ELIMINATION (Coyote outposts marked with red shotgun) or CLASSIFIED documents (yellow crates marked on map). Open them as and when needed. I keep a few in each of my three 'favourite' vehicles - the RV, the modified utility, the ordinary utility.
Taking the Coyote outpost out is made easier with the grenade launcher in your arsenal. Of course you can get "assistance" from hordes of zombies that serve as distractions as the above outpost found out when I happened upon it. Distracted by the zombies I was able to easily wipe them out using my trusty grenade launcher followed up by rifle fire cleansing.
(2) Weather changes happen abruptly. One minute it's fine and not a cloud in the sky, next minute you're driving in a rainstorm. Or fog suddenly descends for a few hours These weather changes can all happen within a few yards and is most noticeable when driving. Had that phenomenon happen several times which was disconcerting, especially when clearing a primary infestation location or taking on a bandit main base.
(3) Creek Prison (below) is best entered from the side hole (right side when looking from main road or third image down)). Front door beware as the zombie boss is at the end of the corridor by the stairs. You will need access keys to enter both the front and through the side. Clear all the levels and individual cells as required. Loads of loot. Roof contains the special loot box. Don't detonate the unexploded bomb in the courtyard.
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