UK GAMES XPO - O - RAMA

BOOM!

Like a completely original and not flogged to death Terminator sequal;

see not flogged to death at all...

Its been a long time and I apologize for that, life has been very, very hectic but enjoyable.
So this week end just gone (28th -30th) was the UK Games Expo in Birmingham.

A wretched hive of scum and villainy... Oh no, that's the other one! Sorry...

A place where all manner of geek, gamer. cos-player, trader and many other things besides gather
to celebrate their love of all things card, miniature and board.

I was their to work... I know right; work? But some one has to and what better way to meet all the wondrous gamer's and collectors out there? I basically sacrificed my own free time and enjoyment
to ensure that you guys had yours. I love you all that much...

Check it out, totally NINJA!

But I jest, it wasn't a sacrifice. I got to see you all and I got to go with NINJA DIVISION!

cue - awesome lights and sound effects

Deke and Dave in the house!

I had the pleasure of working alongside Deke and Dave. As you may know Deke and Dave are some pretty rock solid chaps and proper gen-u-iiiiine games crafters.  

Yes I was a little excited.

It was a big one for them; Their first time here in the UK doing Expo, Forgotten king just hitting the shelves after much success and popularity and, my favorite bit, a chance to show off RELIC KNIGHTS. To share it with people to show them its here and to prepare us all for the new wave of awesomeness that is no doubt on the way.

So much awesome on its way

The reception Relic Knights got was great. So many fans who had backed it and let it sit not realising we had such support and a community going getting to see that they could once again pick up and play and be part of something great. And people who had only heard of it or not at all seeing it for the first time and being blown away by the really unique and cool aesthetics and feel of the game.

It was for me a pleasure to introduce people and reassure people of the great game we have in our hands. To involve them and introduce them to the UK scene for Relic Knights and get them on-board and pointing them in the direction of Relic Knights UK and the likes. A place where they can feel welcome and enjoy their hobby.

Not mastered the smile yet...

The Ninja Core doing their 'thang'

            +no members of the public were harmed in the making of these pics+

So basically it was a great weekend and in no small part thanks to those who came along and gave up their free time to do something they are passionate about and to help us; The Ninja Corps.

NINJA!

The Ninja Corps line up: Ben Clapperton, Cy Dudley and James Funnell and Rory O'Connor of the awesome Rory's Story Cubes  (check them out) even this busy chap gave up time from his own work at the show to demo something he loves.

Ninja Ben  Nadja and Gina

Ninja Cy and the Girls

Ninjas assemble! Me - Dave, the Girls - Deke and Ninja James

Me and Ninja Rory - not at all looking terrified that a big Northerner
 is near him and hasn't had food yet...

Oh and the Girls! Fresh from Takoashi University (Or Germany to you and me) Nadja and Gina

These girls spent the long week end destroying people, and us,  at ...erm sorry, I mean demoing
 Ninja Divisions insanely addictive totally innocent card games; Tentacle Benoto - Karate Fight and
Dead Fellas. (play Tenticle Bento..I dare you)

good honest fun, honest

and

Nadja and Gina are absolute destroyers at this game
as many of us at the week end found out!

I'll take this opportunity to thank the hard core Ninja bunch here and now, they were superb and we couldn't have done it with out them. Working with these guys and Deke and Dave? I am a lucky and spoilt chap.

As you will remember, I do tend to ramble, I have already took up precious minutes of your time so with out further a do I urge you to check out Relic Knights UK (if you have not already) and also to pop over to Ninja Division and marvel at their new game Ninja All Stars (which will be open to late backers on kick starter!). it looks great.


Reet, Im off, Go on...Bugger off!

* throws smoke bomb...pooof, fizzle...sigh*

Round 1... FIGHT!!

With the board set up we next needed to work out what forces we were going to take.

Like most game each model has a cost with the 'better' models costing more. Squads have 2 costs, one for the minimum unit size and another cost for adding to them. We decided to play a Battlebox game but the boxes aren't quite balanced so as it was our first game we'd play 25pts.

My Shattered Sword 

Francis Malory (Questing Knight)
Quill (Cypher)
1 x Paragon (Minion)
4 x Swordsworn (Minion squad)

Paul's Black Diamond

Leopold Magnus (Questing Knight)
Static (Cypher)
1 x M8 Blitz Auto Tank (Minion)
3 x Diamond Corp (Minion squad)

On paper a balanced list but Paul wasn't happy I got one extra model! ;)

We deployed within the first row of our board edge (3 inch on) and decided for this first game to just go and fight rather than worry about objectives.

I won the draw to go first and lined up the Swordsworn to kick things off.

Tis the season to be JOLLY!

So I've arrived at Paul's and after a little last minute shopping for essential supplies... Need to keep hydrated over the Festive bread! ;)

I've set us up a little gaming table. 

Nothing to fancy but perfect for our Battle box game we have planned. It uses one 2x2 foot rubber mat from Mantic Games Deadzone and a load of Terrain - mainly Mantic Games fantastic modular Battlezones but also a few 'Trees' that are just plastic aquarium plants you can get at any pet store.

My Shattered Sword are assembled - just about!

 Need to grab my hobby drill back off Paul so I can pin a Paragon and 2 Swordsworn to their bases and have just blu-tac'd the Paragon shields on for now to aid painting.

We're going to play with just the models in our 2 battle boxes, Shattered Sword and Black Diamond. But Paul is pulling a face and trying to sneak on his Diamondback...!!

Don't think so Mr Scott!

Battle report and other goodness to follow!

Going on the Naughty List!!

Apologises for the 2 week break - busy with Real life with the run up to Christmas!

Thankfully last day of work tomorrow and Paul and his wife have kindly invited me over for Christmas! In between a few festive drinks I've challenged Paul to a game of Relic Knights and plan to take plenty of pictures and do a full battle report!

Got my Mantic terrain all ready but have a few models left to assemble... Should be good to go!

What has everyone else got planned for the festive break?

The Great Procrasta-TRON!

Hell yeah...

Each day as a hobbyist/modeler/painter (or however you like to view your self. Pure fried Awesome -o-trons my favorite) there's a constant struggle in our sole. Paint, do hobby or sit on the internet for hours on end 'researching' what you will do.

                            

                 "I'm cataloging up colour schemes!"

                 "I'm watching 'source' material"

                 "I'm studying new techniques"

                 "I'm 'insert self delusional excuse here' at the minute"

 We all do it, its inescapable. We may even start of with good intentions but inevitably its sets in; the bone idle lethargy kicks in. It may be for different reasons. Personally alot of the time for me it comes from the little voice of doubt I get at the idea of painting something. If I don't paint it etc I cant mess it up. PITIFUL!

He used to pile procrastinating gamers like me 5ft high..

                                                    

Well today I decided to get of my rather ample posterior and started the process of getting my Black Diamonds (the toughest hardcore bunch in any galaxy!) based and prepped to paint and looking sharp. (don't get excited...I haven't got round to painting them but almost!)

Something I personally feel is important in a mini is its actual base. Bases are part of the model and should be treated as such and have time and thought lavished on them. 

I wanted the Black Diamonds to have bases that looked rugged and baron. To reflect their hard nature the far reaches of the galaxy and tough spots they might find them selves in during the course of their contracts. 

Hard Core!

 As such I decided to make use of the box of slate I recently found when having my room/office 'tidied' (the wife assures me this is a legitimate thing...)        

Slate is pretty easy. Smash/break it up. The more random and irregular the result the better. This will help the effect look more natural. Plus as mentioned I want the whole look to be one of tough ruggedness.  

Soda Pop/Ninja Core have given us brilliant rimmed bases. this lends them to being more 'display' than many of the standard miniature bases out their. This lead me to not wanting to use sand for basing on them. Sanding a base is great normally but adds a layer to the base. I felt that with the RK bases having a lip, the sand layer may rise above it and take away from a sharp clean look and finish.

So instead of sand what to use? Erm... well, we cant just leave the base bare. Well I could... but 'Im not! Dont worry though, there is something ideal for this; Liquid Green Stuff! I know right!? Normally its absolutely useful for nothing. But in my room tidying I also found a pot of the stuff that has started to thicken. Using this to dab onto the base creates a fine level of texture detail that you can also control fairly well. This will help keep the sharp look in regards to the 'display element of the base style and will not be a big thick looking layer of sand taking away from the fine detail and scale of the miniatures/bases.

Any pollyfilla type stuff would suffice (and probably cheaper)

Hopefully (despite my pitiful Iphone camera skills, sorry) you can see the texture of the liquid green stuff. When this is dry and painted it will/should give a very natural solid ground/earth finish. 

Aa well as that you should be able to see the higher raised 'pointy' areas. This were easy to 'pull' up with a green stuff laden brush. I am very tempted to revisit them and build up on some of them so that I can paint them as emerging Esper.

Like this - ?

 Or I am quite tempted to have it as a dynamic energy 'build up' effect like we see on so many anime episodes. Which I feel could be quite apt considering the awesome and obvious Relic Knights aesthetic.

HUZZAH! I have done something... well done me. I rock. Well kind of. Maybe. 

On reflection though this means now that I am now one step closer to the greatest  procrasti-tronic nightmares for any of us...PICKING A COLOUR SCHEME!!

DOH! 

You may go now... I have 'research' to do...

FIN!

                 

So why the Shattered Sword?

Last week I was asked by Eric Falsken (on the Relic Knights FB group) to expand on why I chose the Shattered Sword Paladins as my first Faction in Relic Knights so here we go!

I've been gaming for the best part of 20 years now, both competively and socially but all for fun! So when Paul suggested I get into this game I had to toughest decision that faces us all...

...what Faction to play??!!

I'll be honest that at the time I knew nothing about Relic Knights short of it being a game by Soda Pop that had been on Kickstarter. I was aware but didn't know how it played or what was good so instead I decided, as I have often recommended to many a new gamer over the years, to pick a Faction I liked the look of/like the sound of. I think if you can find more to like in a Faction than just how good it is you will get more back from the game.

So what were my choices?

Tis the season to be JOLLY!

Into December we go so a little round up of news from the world of Relic Knights

Holiday Sale

Soda Pop Miniatures are having a sale! From their Website:

Enjoy the holidays with your favorite Relic Knights, Super Dungeon Explore, and Takoashi University games with Soda Pop's 20% Off Holiday Sale!

Discount is available on existing stock only. Offer valid through December 17th.

Holiday Shipping Cutoff: December 17th is the United States shipping cutoff date to ensure you get your packages by December 24th.

 So get yourself along to the Soda Pop Store and treat yourself! Guess shipping will be longer/earlier cut off for us across the pond but it's still a great saving!

http://sodapopminiatures.com/new-releases/

December New Releases

Lots of Minions which is never a bad thing but no Shattered Sword? Obviously not been a very good boy this year!