Boxing Day 2023 - Studio visit in many months

Went into the studio to prep some minis for a get-together tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

Allied Powers flight - two of each SPAD VII & XIII. The 7s are Italian air force.

 

 

 

Two Fokker Dreis based on historical figures - Voss and Kleinke. Fokker D-VI in hand-painted Bavarian Home Defence camo colours.

 

 

While there I began searching for my Albatros D-IIIs and IVs which are my favourite designs. Cigar-shaped but quite attractive. But no luck. Next time lucky? While searching I did come across many components of my official 2024 Makeover Project idling in my display cabinet.

 

 

My 1/72 WW2 aircraft collection originally intended for Rapid Fire. Going to mount them as I have done with the Typhoon.and Stuka. Not sure about the Soviet-era tank (scale or purpose).

 

Mix in the photo above but it's the Me-109E (repair and painting) and the two German WW2 destroyers (painting) that warrant attention and inclusion in my makeover project. Interesting contrast between the blue-based 1/700 Japanese aircraft (Dragon, China) and the black-based 1/600 German aircraft (Tumbling Dice, UK) located behind the destroyers.

 

1/100 (15mm) modern-era aircraft mix. All for mounting. Earmarked for a couple of games.

 

Vietnam War riverine force and one tank. Part of the 2024 makeover.

 

More Vietnam War models for makeover. Helos and armoured vehicles - tanks (both Free World and NVA) and Free World APCs. For Charlie Don't Surf rules by Too Fat Lardies.

 

What is a naval fleet without capital ships. Two are the Rodney and Nelson. The other I can't recall. Much painting. There is also an aircraft carrier included in this group. 

 

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Looking ahead to 2024

Reviewing the previous post, I eventually realised I had more than enough to run my own "slow grow" project for 2024. Unfortunately it is another MASSIVE project. Not intentional but there you go.

It is made possible because I will no longer be distracted by my ongoing participation in an online PC game begun back in 2020 where I have been playing daily for several hours on average. That involvement is now winding up as I near my two personal goals. Now I can fully devote time and energy to my tabletop wargaming and general hobby interests without any distractions whatsoever. Or at least make an honest attempt at it. I may discard or ignore some objective mentioned in my last post subject to priorities. 

For now I am writing up a simple straightforward timetable schedule to get me staring in the right direction. This, of course, is subject to amendments and revisions as the projects unfold. Cheers.

JANUARY - MAY: Complete as many Historical projects as possible. Note: time for actual tasks given where possible. The longest time though, as most will know, is gathering the necessary materials. 

• Ancient naval ships - Battle of Salamis fleets touchup. Painting. One day for task. Plans to run another small solo engagement set in the same time using an alternate ruleset yet to be determined. Future of this venture? Unknown at the moment. It was a foray in the first place, something that piqued my interest back when. Probably a one-off.
• Anglo-Dutch Wars ship - single ship or two? Complete build from start to finish. Two-three days allocated for build. Still for display purposes. One of many to-do challenges I've set myself over the years that got started but never finished. Perhaps this time round? It will really challenge me given I'm not that skilled a modeller and because I've always been lazy.
• WW1 planes - Airfix duo set build. Also a complete build to completion. Two days for a comfortable endeavour. Spruce up both groups for a multi-plane game later in 2024. Still interested in taking multi-plane gaming further. Ran a published campaign associated with this ruleset (Canvas Eagle) back in 2022. At the time it was purely graphical - no models. Now I would take it a step further using actual models. Got the equipment and table. And a live opponent who is eager and willing to participate.
• French Foreign Legion fort. Interior layout of fort needs completion. A project began many years back. Exterior structure completed. Got bogged down in details at the time. Now I want it finished. Three days total alloted.
• Russian Civil War - armoured tank acquisition and build. Low priority at the moment while I research scratch-building to scale which is the real challenge. Unlikely to see light of day to be honest; it depends on how well I am travelling with the other projects. No time limit as project not started yet.
• WW2 planes - 1/600 & 1/700 sets - decals and mounting. Probably take a day or two to fully complete. Two different scales for use with two different rulesets - Bag the Hun 2 and General Quarters III. The latter because of carrier air ops. One day.
• WW2 naval ships - 1/3000 - paint and mount the surplus ships. Most US and Japanese vessels from the Pacific theatre of operations. One day.
• WW2 land vehicles - Willys Jeep build - wheels and accessories attached - painting - decals. Integrate them into an airborne force or existing Allied forces supplied by the American war machine. Mid to Late war period. One day. 
• WW2 Kelly's Heroes terrain board (modular) - Very big project - mostly complete construction of the various modular boards - train tracks - trains - buildings - cars - etc. This will take up the bulk of the time allocated. Expect to make some inroads and possibly complete one or two modules. It may become an ongoing long-term task. Giving a week for this endeavour.
• 1/100 scale jet planes - small task - various periods and nations. One day.
• Vietnam War riverine force - rivercraft build completion - decals & painting. Being generous with myself and giving it two days the entire flotilla.
• Vietnam War aircav helo - small task - decals & painting. Aircraft assembled and mounted on wooden stands. May search around for clear acrylic rods as replacements. One day to complete the task - decals and painting and replacing rods. 
• Vietnam War Free World transports and armoured vehicles. A day for the whole group - painting and basing. Including markings and figures.
• Vietnam War terrain boards and buildings. Three days.

JUNE - AUGUST: Complete as many Fantasy projects as possible. Lower priority than Historical at the moment.

• Burrows & Badgers warband - acquire and paint up more figures (if possible) - low priority small task as more figures are bought and added to existing warband. Subject to availability too.
• Ogre Kingdoms list (6th edition) - big project - painting. I have a decent bitz pile to kitbash various combinations in order to fulfil objective. 
• Beastman list (7th edition) - small task - painting. List already created but will review and amend given I sold off the most valuable items - charioteers (why?) and giants (again, why?). 
• Lizardmen list (7th edition) - big project. Time consuming simply because this is my most incomplete list. Lacking Cold Ones and a few other support units.  
• High Elves list (7th edition) - small task - paint touchup and completion. Mix of figures from two editions. Lacking firepower. For now finish what's there and add as required and/or as available.
• Warhammer Fantasy Lizardmen presentation board - big project - painting makeover, repair, and completion. About 80% done regarding general layout and presentation. Replace items removed (such as palm trees)

SEPTEMBER - NOVEMBER: Complete as many Sci-fi & Other projects as possible.

• 40K Eldar grav-tanks complete paint makeover - big project
• 40K Eldar list or collection - main Eldar force. Points size irrelevant. Aim is to include most of the Shrines with support vehicles and weaponry - big project
• Early 20th century urban modular terrain build - complete to tabletop gaming standard. Quality will be 5 out of 10 - big project
• Dsiplay aircraft - small task. One day allocated. 
• Truck rig & display board - big project. Keen to finish this off and have it on display. One week devoted to it. 

DECEMBER: Final report of goals tallied up - done or not done.

Of course this timetable schedule runs in conjunction with gaming activities undertaken throughout the year. 

It's December

Not keen on starting another massive painting project again in the immediate near future. For me the Borodino project cost me a lot in terms of time, energy, motivation, enthusiasm. More than three years on it's still exerting its hold on me with the refight itself still unfinished. The refight was never intended, but once the list was painted up, what was there left to do but put them to use on the tabletop.

Despite the recent interesting promotion from my local hobby forum site for its slow-grow 2024 painting endeavour, I will not be actively partaking of it. However, it has planted that irritable tiny seed of interest. Perhaps I might work alongside but do so on my own terms. I no longer can post pictures as I've somehow used up my quota allowed. And people, for the most, like visuals as much as they don't mind long-winded explanations.

Like so many others involved in this hobby, I have a storage space full of miniatures of the tabletop variety in varying stages of completion. Slowing dusting away and ignored. Wife would like to see me sell off my modelling collections. For now I am resisting her pleas even though I know I am fighting a losing battle knowing she makes perfect sense. 

HISTORICAL MINIATURES

There's quite a large amount of unfinished or not-started models covering all three arenas of operation - air, sea, and land. To simplify matters for me therefore I am alloting every project that I can remember off-hand into two groupings - Big projects and Small tasks. It doesn't mean squat though, but it's nice to have them categorized. 

Big projects simply mean those that are either still new in their boxes, or are opened but unassembled. 

Small projects are just unfinished projects already started and/or are in various states of completion. 

The listing below, no doubt, will miss a few as I am relying solely on memory alone to identify. So this listing is neither final or comprehensive. No doubt I will add more as they are rediscovered over the coming months and years.

Air arena

Big projects:

• 1/72 WW1 aircraft. Airfix duo starter sets: Fokker Dr-1 vs Bristol F28 Dogfight double. A pair of kits. Mission: Assemble. Purpose: Part of my planned squadron-level multiplane combat missions for 2024. Unfortunately I won't be able to access those kits until after Christmas as they are presents to me by me via my wife. Don't ask for an explanation; it's just how it is in our household.

Small tasks:

• 1/72 WW1 aircraft for Canvas Eagles game. Mission: Repair those broken from game play. And there are few, mostly wheel carriages and propellors. Gaming buddy mentioned using soft clear plastic circles which sounds good enough for me. Unless I can either 3D print or hand sculpt. Have to wait and the see the outcome.
• 1/700 plastic WW2 aircraft for use in naval air ops with either SMR or GQ III rulesets. Mission: Repaint and mount onto bases the remaining few. Mainly roundels and aircraft markings. These are by Chinese maker Dragon. And found by accident whilst browsing my local go-to bricks-and-mortar hobby store. Ideal for my 1/700 naval ships, especially my one Japanese carrier.
• 1/600 white metal WW2 aircraft for European/Western Desert theatre of Operations (Bag the Hun 2). Mission: same as for 1/700 aircraft above. Mostly painted up but no decals applied. A few unpainted though. Keen to get back into BTH for some squadron-level action.
• 1/100 (15mm) helos for Vietnam War. For use primarily with Too Fat Lardies CDS rules. Mission: Decals and final paint touches. Got a couple of excellent historical source references, ideal for creating scenarios and the like. 
• 1/48 WW2 aircraft of the display kit variety. Mission: To be mounted properly for final display in my display cabinet.

Naval arena

Big projects:

• Anglo-Dutch ship build (including rigging). One ship I believe but need to verify if there is not another although my memory of the purchase made is decades ago and thus currently unreliable. Will eventually become display model as I don't have the time to devote fully to the period unless I meet someone equally interested. Scale: 1/1200. Models by Langton Miniatures (UK). Ruleset is Tiller & Whipstaff.
• World War 2 1/3000 white metals ships. Formerly Skytrex (UK). Mostly US & Japanese ships for Pacific theatre of Operations (leftovers and others from a local buy years ago). Many duplicates. Most probably paint them up either as sister ships or as spares. I believe Navwar (UK) now own the moulds and are retailing the Battle fleets in smaller nation lots. Plus they are also now pricier. Regret not buying the Battle of Jutland battlefleets (both sides) back then when I had the chance. 

Small tasks: 

• Galleys from Ancients period (Persian/Greek/Spartan). These are 3D printer files I downloaded some time ago for a refight of the Battle of Salamis using He Hemetera Thalassa, Mare Nostrum rules. Vessel scale is forgotten but a guess might be 1/6000 because I wanted to field single ships instead of stands representing groups of ships (doesn't give that grand sense of scale and magnitude). Complete with a rework with paint.
• WW1 paper ships. Always wanted to refight the Battle of Jutland or its opening situations. Rather than miniatures which now cost a lot I chose paper models backed onto plantation-grown paulownia wood (option instead of balsa). Mission: playtest the rules - Admiral of the Fleet by Seekrieg (USA).

Land based

Big projects: 

• Napoleonic. Finish the Battle of the Borodino solo refight according to plan. This happens to be the main priority between now and the new year. It comes downs to motivation and time.  This remains the #1 priority.
• WW2 Willys Jeeps - a large collection of 3D printed from own design sit idle in several storage boxes. Some assembly still required to complete. Part of an abandoned WW2 Battle of Arnhem project. Scale: 1/72. Designed to be used with Rapid Fire (UK) ruleset. NB: Rapid Fire 2 is the current meta.
• Repaint makeover Lion Rampant 1/72 medievals in preparation for returning using the latest 2nd edition rulest. Maybe revive my solo campaigns from a few years back is on the cards.
• 1/32 Truck rig kit. Mission: complete assembly including final painting, decals, and display stand. I have a mental image of how I want to display it. Finding the time and assembling all the materials needed to finish it in a few modelling sessions is the major problem.
• 1930s terrain - inner city. For use in gangster wargames. Translating the mental image inside one's head can be difficult. Lacking the appropriate modelling skills and knowledge adds to that difficulty. Would love to finish it however to gaming table standard.
• Copplestone car. For use with .45 Adventures ruleset. White metal car with figures. Unassembled and unpainted. A task for the spray gun?
• WW2 terrain board. Modular system. Italy 1943. Many pieces incomplete. Was hoping to one day run a big Rapid Fire game on it when I was in a local gaming group. "Hoping" being the operative word as I ran out of steam after several months. Then quietly and conveniently forgotten.
• Tin Tin & Snowy. A childhood aspiration that is still wishful thinking. Seen a few retailers of suitable figures. But looking for something appropriate of that era for the European-style nations of the early twentieth century. A thought might be to convert European figures from the mid-19th century as they look similar to some of the nations from the Tintin universe. 

Small tasks: 

• Part 1: Vietnam War Riverine fleet. A group of half-finished Tangos and Monitors. Scale: 1/100 (15mm). For Too Fat Lardies fun Charlie Don't Surf ruleset. 
• Part 2: Vietnam War land forces. Both Charlie/NVA and Free World. Same ruleset. US aircav units (helos) needing decals added.
• 1/72 Russian Civil War collection. Primary ruleset: Red Actions. Wanting to add a modified armour train from the period.
• Large presentation board of a Lizardman open temple with a mountain facade. Would make an excellent backdrop for a Fantasy game.
• Burrows & Badgers skirmish game. Assembling more figurines for the two small playtest warbands. Project of fairly low priority.

MINIATURES - FANTASY & SCI-FI

Primarily GW in origin. Interest began back in the late 90s when I got involved while living in Sydney. First list was Chaos Space Marines. Over the years I've become more interested in Eldar although I did branch out into Warhammer Fantasy. Interested mainly in High Elves, Beastmen, Ogres. Many many projects, big and small, sitting gathering dust.

Fantasy genre

All are from a certain period (c. 2007-13) when I was first entered and then immersed myself within Warhammer Fantasy universe. As with the 40K component, many of the worthy or "good" models were sold off (such as my then-expensive Forge World Eldar Phantom Titan). What's left is sitting on my shelving or dumped in boxes stored away. 

Big projects:

• Ogre Kingdom. Main reference: 6th & 8th editions. A few units have been assembled that are at least painted to bare minimum tabletop standard. Loads more unassembled in my bitz pile however. The usual Ogre type include:
• Tyrants
• Bulls
• Bruisers
• Butchers
• Ironguts
• Leadbelchers
• Maneaters
• Hunters
• Associated creatures include:
• Gorgers
• Gnoblars
• Yhetees
• Slavegiants
• Sabretusks
• Rhinenoxen

Small tasks:

• Beastmen. Main reference books: 6th & 7th editions. The usual types. Lots of surplus in bitz pile, mainly accessories (weapons, shields, arms bearing weapons, etc). As it was my first Fantasy army, it's fairly complete but a bit shabby nowadays from neglect and wear. Definitely in need of a makeover as does my entire Warhammer Fantasy collection.
• Bray-Shamans
• Wargor
• Gors
• Bestigors
• Centigors
• Ungors
• Minotaurs
• Warhounds
• High Elves. Main reference: 7th edition. Smallest army list created. Several loose units that are incomplete. Includes:
• Ellyrian Reavers
• Swordmasters of Hoeth
• Lothern Seaguard
• Elven Archers
• 
  
• Lizardmen. Small and limited to:
• Saurian units
• Temple Guards
• Skinks 
• Stagadons
• Krexigors
• Cold One cavalry 
• Slaan Mage Priests

Sci-fiction genre

See comments above in the Fantasy introduction.

Big projects:

• 40K Eldar. Several groups that include specialised foot units and combat vehicles. Mision: major repainting of the vehicles and assembling the figurines. Mounting on to bases is another task.
• Eldar grav tanks - I have a small group of Eldar Falcons painted in what I now call "hippy" style. Looking to improve on that loose and carefree style by changing it something more elaborate, deliberate, and thereby fitting to a perceived Eldar style. Problem in the past is deciding whether to align with an existing Craftworld or generate a custom one. Still undecided. Alos looking to modify a couple into variants such as the Night Spinner and Fire Prism.
• Wraith Knights - only one left. Other one disappeared when I loaned it long ago to a gaming associate but it was never returned. Repaint or touch-up with remaining knight? Not sure yet.
• War Walkers - two that need a definite repaint of both walkers Was more interested in painting their bases at the time and therefore gave scant regard to the Walker's colour scheme and painted something temporary.
• Storm Guardians. Far too many within this group. Idea is to paint in either standard Eldar craftworld colours or distinctively unique colours. That's the plan for now. More as it unfolds. 
• Warrior Paths - I don't have the complete set. Maybe this might be a nice sidepath mission to undertake in 2024. I do have:
• Dire Avengers
• Stinging Scorpions
• Warp Spiders
• Shining Hawks
• Howling Banshees
• Fire Dragons
• Dark Reapers

Small tasks:

• Xenos Rampant. A new project that is still in infant stage.
• Dragon Rampant. Adapt more figurines from my GW surplus. 

BOARDGAMES

I have a few boardgames. I am not a collector however. Main objective would be to play those boardgames that have not been opened.

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BORODINO REFIGHT (Solo wargame)

Situation at the end of Turn 6 for the French. These are selected images that weren't shown at the local forum site. Russian Turn 6 is next. Time is 9am. View is mainly from behind the Russian defensive lines as they await the French assaults. The French artillery, for their part, are trying to correct their inital deployment mistake.

At the second table, Tuchkov's request for help is being answered as Duka's cuirassier division is heading south and should provide an effective counter to Latour-Marbourg's cavalry corps now assisting Poniatowski's feint on the Russian far left. Duka's arrival is just in time too as the Polish light cavalry are wreaking havoc in the Russian rear as the photo below shows

North of the Grand Redoubt the French are amassing in greater force after being repulsed initially. Units from Ney's corps have joined the attached divisions of Morand and Gerard. Meanwhile Eugene's command is pressing their initial success in taking Borodino and capturing the main bridge across the Kolocha by moving up the New Post road toward Gorki.

Yes, it's been a very long time since last played. It is a sincere wish to grab a few turns between now and my next Nap game with the new gaming group in January 2024. However I won't be overly upset because I can return to the game any time I like. Part of the joy of solo wargaming. Cheers.

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Review of the 2023 Pine Rivers Model Train & Hobby Exhibition

A two-day event. Went to the last day. Parking no problem. Amenities. Canteen.  

Event held at the South Pine Sports Complex, Cribb Road, Brendale, QLD 4500. Initially I wasn't planning on attending as I was up most of last night and only went to bed around 5 am. But after a few hours kip, I went anyway. Glad I did. Met and chatted with several interesting people such as the lovely Kiwi lady from back home but living in the Gold Coast who was selling hobby tools. The display owners/creators proudly explained their works to me and answered a noob's simple questioning. 

I honestly marvel at the quality and skill of their works. For instance, the Walloon display (below) is an actual depiction of a real station from 1985. The group took photos of the place at the time and they built it from those photos. The elderly gent who explained the display drew up the buildings and others scratch-built them.

Got know the scales in my casual stroll and was able to quickly recognise them like the smaller N scale as opposed to the HO scale. 

 

There were several interesting displays that caught my eye such as the working ski gondolas and cable cars.

I learned that nearly all the models are available locally. But they can be expensive such as the steam engine for the Banff Canadian Rockies train display (below photo) which cost much much more than the standard diesel locomotive which cost only a couple hundred! All up, so he told me, he'd spent over sixty thousand dollars on his "passion".

Old and young showcased today. This young lad made this display.

 

One display raised a chuckle. It's of Nothing, Arizona. An actual location so I was informed by the drowsy owner.

 

There was even a Leggo train and scenic display...

Several trade stands operated with the usual paraphenalia associated with trains and the hobby in general. 

But the highlight for me has to be meeting up with Bruce, Don, Daniel and one other as I was about to leave. They are a local garage gamer group based locally and they were tabling a Lion Rampant pairs exhibtion game in 20mm. Of course they were using the latest LR ruleset (version 2).

The gents play historical (mostly) in 20mm. Hoping to join their company and engage in some casual gaming.

New Build Thread: World War One 1/72 aircraft #1

Starting this new WW1 aircraft thread primarily for Canvas Eagles. Aim is to assemble multiples of the same aircraft type in order to run multi-plane games. Ultimate goal will be fielding an actual squadron of the same aircraft type. But I will be undertaking this venture on the cheap. No fixed timeframe. As and when they are completed.

Today I bought two 1/72 double plane kitsets via Might Ape online store. Last night there were three so today's purchase was a bit of a knee-jerk reaction to missing out of having three sets of aircraft instead of the two now presenting itself. Mind you, there's always the future and possible restock so I was perhaps panicking and reacting needlessly.

Next post: World War One 1/72 aircraft #2: Assembling these kits next month

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Canvas Eagles; Multiplane games continued

Began rummaging through old photos from my other blogsite tonight and found these images. All the images below are from 2018. Planning on running multi-plane games to give a bit more challenge and variety to the normal get-together. Not yet started on generating narrative scenarios but I have several ideas mulling about in the head.

First photo above shows two Late war SPAD XIIICs. Both historical and both American-flown. 

Dramatized aerial combat between two Italian SPADs and a lone German Dr-1. Used Paint to remove the flight stems and add the smoke and flames

Another dramatized encounter between two German Dr-1s and two Allied triplanes (too far to accurately identify, and not sure if same type). Again I used Paint to erase the flight stems and add the lightning/storm effect.

Two Late war period Fokker DVIIs in the above photo (bottom right corner). The Early War period lone Albatross D-III to their left has a companion somewhere but is not shown. There are two Fokker Eindeckers as represented by the yellow one (above the DVIIs). The green one is shown in the photo below.

Just from that photographic evidence alone I can estimate that I can easily table the following paired aircraft for a gaming scenario:

• Fokker Dr-I - Early War
  
• SPAD XIIIC (both American-flown) - Late War
  
• SPAD XI (Italian colours) - Early & Late War
  
• Albatros D-III - Early War
  
• Fokker E-III or IV - Early War

There are other aircraft (of course) but these are singles. However they can be combined to form pairs such as a:

• recon mission with escort
• artilley spotting mission with escort
• bombing run
• air balloon busting mission

Next post: Creating new multi-plane scenarios

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Badgers & Burrows: Equipment & Spells for both Warbands

The rulebook sets a limit of 350 pennies to outfit your entire warband. Not always possible though especially if using what's shown on the model as I've since discovered. Which leaves me with two options:

1. Ignore the 350 limit altogether by costing what's shown on the model, or,
2. Conform to the limit set.

This post will follow the first option. Why? Because it's going to be a first-time playthrough of the rules and that seems more pertinent. Also going with the six (6) maximum ingredients for spell casting and creation. As per page 39, "...Every character must have at least one Weapon, one Item, or one Spell..." Unless the creature fights unarmed like Tarkus (snake) and Blutus (yeti).

Harry Humps Megan Warband

Allegiance : Royalist

Expert Training : The Strike dice of two warband members are improved by one level, to a maximum of d12.

Members : 5

Den : Hodge Hall (ruined farm estate)

Upgrade : Smithy (able to make own weapons and armour)

Equipment : Each member may carry up to 6 pieces of equipment (2 Weapons, 2 Armour, 1 Item, and 1 Special (which can be Weapon, Armour, or Item).

NOTE: Before proceeding I should mention that I've made some modification to the warband since its creation (such as promoting Gawdy to 2IC and thus freeing Wanda to concentrate on her magicking). And I've also taken liberties regarding the inclusion and location of additional items such as Wanda's Magic Pouch and Penfold's scaling equipment (small enough to secreted on the person somewhere). Also included potions for coating weapons such as poison bolts for crossbows or paralysing swords.

Leader :

Sir Harry Harefoot (knight of the realm on a quest) - Leap, Strong (1), Tough* (2)

Large Beast (40mm base) = 53 pennies

One-handed Weapon (sword) = 8 pennies

Crossbow = 20 pennies

Heavy Armour (mailcoat) = 25 pennies

Heavy Shield (no buckler for this dude) = 20 pennies 

Mortal Poison = 8 pennies

Healing potion = 5 pennies

    Total = 139 pennies

2IC: 

Gawdy Padfoot from Kardyf (knight of the realm) - Expert Training (Skill d6 is now d8), Tough* (2)

Small Beast (30mm base) = 24 pennies

One-handed Weapon (sword) = 8 pennies

Crossbow = 20 pennies

Heavy Armour (mailcoat) = 25 pennies

Light Shield (mouse size) = 12 pennies

Paralysing Poison = 6 pennies

Healing potion = 5 pennies

    Total = 100 pennies

Members:

Wanda Redtail (Natural Magic user) 

Medium Beast (30mm base) = 34 pennies

Magic's Focus = 15 pennies

Magic Pouch (hidden by cloak) = 10 pennies

        2 x thyme leaves = 4 pennies

        3 x lugwort = 3 pennies

        1 x elf bolt = 5 pennies

    Total = 71 pennies

Molly Tenderfoot (sister to Gawdy) - Expert Training (Skill d6 is now d8), Tough* (2)

Small Beast (30mm base) = 24 pennies

One-handed Weapon (sword) = 8 pennies

Heavy Armour (mailcoat) = 25 pennies

Light Shield (mouse size) = 12 pennies

Healing potion = 5 pennies

    Total = 74 pennies

Penfold Dangermouth (burglar, scout)

One-handed Weapon (dagger) = 8 pennies

Rope and hook (in sack) = 6 pennies

Camouflage Cloak = 15 pennies

    Total = 29 pennies

Total cost for outfitting warband is 413 pennies. Let's see how the opposing warband fares in their costings.

* - Skill earned courtesy of quality of Armour

================================================

Darkslyde Warband

Allegiance : Wildbeast

Attuned to the Land : Ignore Difficult terrain when moving horizontally (except Water unless having the Swim skill). Does not affect vertical Movement however.

Members : 4

Den : Glowing Caves in the Hidden Forest

Upgrade : Magical Garden (obtain 4 FREE magical ingredients PER game)

Equipment : Each member may carry up to 6 pieces of equipment (2 Weapons, 2 Armour, 1 Item, and 1 Special (which can be Weapon, Armour, or Item).

NOTE: Because two members of this warbands are exotic foreign creatures I've had to evaluate their worth based on comparison to similar existing beasts. It's not precise though and the existing beastiary is fairly localised to a specific region in fictional Northymbria. So there will be some issue with the assessment. Perhaps the ruleset might include an expansion some day.

Leader:

Tarkus Slitheryss (Death Adder Dark Magic user) - Poison (Pain), Unarmed fighter

Medium Beast (30mm) = 36 pennies

Mage's Focus (Craw of Zelda) = 15 pennies

Mage's Pouch = 10 pennies

        mandrake = 5 pennies

        lotus flowers = 3 pennies

        petrified wood = 3 pennies

        badger's claw = 5 pennies

        badger's blood = 5 pennies

      Total = 82 pennies

2IC:

Distemper Slotheye (Veteran Weasel Soldier) - Fearless, Tough* (2)

Medium Beast (30mm base) = 51 pennies

Crossbow = 20 pennies

One-handed Weapon (falchion) = 8 pennies

Heavy Armour (mailcoat) = 25 pennies

Mortal poison = 8 pennies

Healing potion = 5 pennies

    Total = 117 pennies

Members:

Blutus (Yeti Foreign Mercenary) - Strong (3), Tough (2), Fearsome, Unarmed Fighter

Large Beast (40mm base) - Rare  = 65 pennies

Lucky Charm (neck chain) = 15 pennies

Scent Marker = 5 pennies

    Total = 85 pennies

Janga Festis (Crocodillian Foreign Mercenary) - Strong (2), Tough* (2), Swim

Medium Beast (30mm base) - Rare = 50 pennies

Spear = 15 pennies

Heavy Shield = 20 pennies

Heavy Armour (platelets) = 23 pennies

Paralysing potion (x2) = 10 pennies

    Total = 118 pennies

Total cost to outfit this warband is 402 pennies. Similar to its opponent. But both are way over the 350 limit. 

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I've also drafted a copy of the existing Warband Roster sheet from the official Rulebook. Why? Because it's easier for me to comprehend why and what I am doing if I just replicate manually what's been given. And it keeps my mind active given I'm exhibiting short-term memory loss more and more these days. 

Still some confusion concerning aspect of the Magic section. Initially checked the FAQ as well as the Q and A on the website but found no immediate resolution or clarification. Will continue invesitgating however.

Next post: Rule Mechanics and Playtest

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