40K Rulebook Not On GW's Website!

I know I haven't posted much on 40K as I have just began building my Necron army but while surfing the GW website I noticed the rulebook is no longer listed for sale. It can only mean one thing, 6th edition can't be far.

Mantic Games...The Classic David vs Goliath Story

This week marked a milestone in the life of upstart Mantic Games. Almost 3 years of playtesting have lead to Wednesdays announcement of the first hardcover version of the rules. I know many of you haven't heard of Mantic Games but I suspect with the release of this new book that is about to change.

I have been following Mantic's rise from the beginning, even before I started playing my beloved Skaven. I found them quite by accident while surfing for Dungeons and Dragons miniatures for a skeleton heavy encounter I was running. I ordered a box, and even though I never managed to build them until about a year later, I was impressed. The models were well constructed and were full of character. The skeletons had a comical look to them, not Saturday morning cartoony, more like the skeletons from the old Sinbad movies I used to watch on Saturday afternoon.

Since this initial purchase I have built up a sizable collection of both Undead and Dwarves. I had hoped these miniatures would supplement my meager Dwarven and Vampire Kings forces if I ever decide to leave my Skaven behind for a day.

Aside from the actual models, Mantic has done an amazing job trying to build the game as a whole. Not only are the rules and army lists freely available on their website, they encourage the community to create army lists for other armies their competitors produce. I have an excellent Skaven army list created by the community.

I should mention two things about the rules, the current rulebook is about 56 pages or so, including 8 army lists, and second, the rules are written by Alessio Cavatore, for those that don't know who that is, he is the man who wrote the current versions of Warhammer and 40K. Oh, and even though the rulebook is going to be released in hardcover, Mantic is going to provide all the subscribers of their newsletter with an electronic copy! I hope this is an indication that the rules will continue to be freely available, I suspect it will.

I am going to be writing more about Mantic Games, and Kings of War in the very near future but for now I am just happy bringing the message that Mantic has finally arrived! Now hopefully I will be able to find a player on this side of the ocean!

You Learn Something New Every Day!

I have been expanding my Warmachine army using the tried and true "That looks so cool!" method. Admittedly not the best way but it is definitely the most fun way to build your army! I was looking online at the Menoth army when I came across the Wrack. I couldn't help myself...I had to get them. I went to my local game store and it had been picked clean of anything Menoth. No Wrack, no faction cards, no Menoth book...not even a copy of the full rulebook. They did have a metal Revenger which I planned on getting. Unfortunately, I foolishly put it back on the shelf I pondered the purchase. When I came back it was gone.

I live in an area that has quite a few stores selling the products I need. I usually purchase from the store I play at, but sometimes I stray. My second choice game store had a bit more in the way of stock. Needless to say, I found my beloved Wracks! I also managed to get a resin Revenger kit, a Vassal of Menoth and High Executioner Servath Reznik (who I am told works best with the Wracks).

I rushed home to build my newly acquired treasures when life stepped in and promptly halted my building plans dead in their tracks. When I finally was able to return to the build, I discovered the Wracks would be nearly impossible to build. The wracks contain two counterbalance parts that connect to the main model by a single chain length. I was stopped dead in my tracks. This would take me holding the pieces in place for hours as I had done in the past. I stopped building for the night to think...there had to be a better way. I went to bed still pondering my predicament.

When I woke up I had a strong urge to go to my secondary game store, my primary is closed on Monday. I spent a leisurely half hour looking at the Menoth and Skaven model kits but nothing caught my eye. Remembering I needed a couple of paints I walked to the paint section. That's when it caught my eye...The Army Painter Magic Superglue Activator. The solution to my problem was staring me in the face! I knew I would finally be able to finish the Wracks. There was little doubt this would work because I was told to buy a similar product. Unfortunately for me, I am a cheap gamer and didn't take the advice the first, second or even third time it was offered!

So after all the ranting, here is my point. Its easy to let advice from your fellow gamers go in one ear and out the other, after all, just about every gamer has some unwanted wisdom they wish to impart. The key is to listen to the good and ignore the bad.

Exemplar Cinerator

Freshly built Exemplar Cinerator. Four more to go!

Vanquisher Heavy Warjack

 

This is my Vanquisher Heavy Warjack before it has the primer.

Crusader Heavy Warjack

 

This is the Crusader Heavy Warjack with primer. I will likely paint this one first.

High Exemplar Kreoss

 

This is the first model I built. High Exemplar Kreoss. I was told this model is similar to the king in chess. A powerful opponent but if he dies the game is basically over!

Pic

On the Eve of Starting a New Game

I have decided to do something I haven't done in over a year. I am starting a new game. I am going to  split the Warmachine Beginner Box with a fellow gamer. I expect my new obsession will begin tomorrow at  Phoenix Games  when I show up to DM this weeks Encounters session. My plan is to build the figures tomorrow night if there is only enough players for one session...that is if my fellow DM shows. He has been strangely absent for the past two weeks.

I have chosen to play The Protectorate of Menoth, which for some reason caused a few of the store regulars sitting around the painting/bragging/armchair general table to chuckle suggesting they had some knowledge I was lacking. One of the group managed to ask why through his chuckling! I replied I have been playing Clerics and Paladins for over 30 years and have them down pat and I thought this experience will help me in the coming battles. I purposely chose to do very little research about any of the forces in the Warmachine universe. I haven't spent more than an hour on the Privateer Press website. I wanted my experience to be fresh and without preconceived notions. 

This was different from the approach I took when I started playing Warhammer. I studied the armies in detail for at least a month before I chose to play the Skaven. This approach worked because I love playing the rat men and their under empire. From the unpredictable war engines to the deadly magic to the cowardly troops, every game I play is so different from the last. As a Skaven player, there is never a dull moment. This type of army suited my style to a tee...well, the reckless side of my personality anyway.

 I am looking forward to channeling the holy warrior I have played for so many years, albeit in a different game. I have always loved playing the righteous warrior striving for a goal bigger than himself...working toward the greater good...or at least towards his definition of the greater good!

I shouldn't have to wait too long to fight the heretical forces in the Warmachine universe , I am playing in a league over the course of the next few weeks. I will keep my readers up to date on my progress in the league. I hope to post pics of my paint jobs and my victories...or loss.

DnD Next Part 1 - What Wizards Should Do First!

I knew it was a matter of time before Wizards announced they were working on the next version of the game that started it all. Over the next few months I will be publishing a series of articles about the direction I would like to see Wizards take the game.

I have played every single version of the game from 1979 on and have invested 1000's of hours into planning and playing. I just recently introduced both of my children to the game. Many of the best memories I have have revolved around the game and I am hoping for many more.

Review: The Book of Vile Darkness

NOTE: This review is the beginning of a new direction my reviews will be taking. I will spend more time discussing the production quality of the product and the value for money. I will provide a four star rating based on the only thing that matters, "Is this product worth a place on my bookshelf?".

The Book of Vile Darkness is a role playing supplement for the Fourth edition of Dungeons and Dragons. It contains a 96 page Dungeon Master's Book, a 32 page Player's Book and a double-sided battle map featuring 3 encounter areas all contained in a thick paper sleeve.

Before I begin, over the course of my role-playing life I have not been keen on the inclusion of evil characters to a party in my campaigns. In the rare occasions where I have allowed them, I required a pretty detailed list of reasons as to why a player should be permitted to play an evil character. 

The Ecology of The Cheating Player

One of the most difficult things a DM will have to deal with over the course of his gaming lifetime is the cheating player. One cheating player can cause your game to become unbalanced very quickly, spoiling the fun for everyone! How is a DM, especially a beginning DM, supposed to deal with this destroyer of game worlds. In my years of playing this, and quite frankly dozens of Role-Playing Games, I have had more than a few players cheat. This article will provide new DMs with a few tried and true techniques to minimize the effects cheating will have on your game.

Review: Trade Routes: Expanded Caravan Rules Sourcebook

Last week in my inbox was an email from Louis Porter Jr. Designs previewing their newly updated supplement, Trade Routes: Expanded Caravan Rules Sourcebook. I am considering running the Pathfinder Adventure Path, Jade Regent so I thought it would be worth checking out. My review is based on the November 21st, 2011 version of the supplement which include and expand on the rules presented in the Jade Regent Player's Guide.

First Impressions - DnD Encounters: Beyond The Crystal Cave

The weekly Dungeons and Dragons Encounters sessions have been part of my life for the past year. I spent my first couple of weeks playing before I began my stint as a DM. I have enjoyed introducing the game to people of all ages, but in particular to the younger players. In fact, I have used Encounters to introduce the game to my 16 year old daughter and my 12 year old son. For the most part, the adventures have provided an excellent introduction for new players. The fact that the encounter seasons have been designed to coincide with the current product releases is good for the more experienced players as well, giving them an excellent opportunity to experiment with new settings or character options before they spend their hard earned money.

Review: Madness At Gardmore Abbey

When I first heard about Gardmore Abbey in the Dungeon Master's guide, my imagination was peaked. Later, when I picked up my copy of the Dungeon Master's Kit, and the story of Gardmore Abbey was developed a bit more, I knew I wanted to make it part of my campaign. It wasn't long after I finished reading the rest of the Dungeon Master's Kit that I discovered Wizards was planning on releasing Gardmore Abbey as a "Super Adventure". I was excited. I circled the date on my calendar and patiently camped out at my local game store.

Why The Greatest Game In The World Needs To Change

NOTE: This was a very difficult article to write. Please pass the link for this article to as many people as you can. I would love to hear your comments, especially on what you thinks needs to happen to save our game. The article is the long so be warned.


Dungeons and Dragons has been a constant in my life since 1979. I have played every edition since the Red Basic Box and am currently playing 4th edition. Over the years I have played many different role-playing systems, from superhero (DC Heroes, Villains and Vigilantes, Champions and Marvel Super Heroes), science fiction (Traveller, Star Frontiers, Time Master and Star Trek), horror (Chill and Call of Cthulhu), games based on the end on the end of the world (Gamma World and Paranoia) and even RPGs based on cartoons (Teenage Mutant Turtles and Robotech). I have only ever played one fantasy RPG, Dungeons and Dragons. I have never felt the need to stray from my first love, that is until now. This is where my dilemma begins...

Pathfinder Beginner Box...The Box That Keeps On Giving!

Earlier in the week I managed to snag a copy of the Pathfinder Beginner Box. From the moment I held it in my hands I knew I was going to be quite happy with the treasures to be found inside. To be fair, I was hard pressed to find a negative review of this product, the single biggest complaint was Paizo shouldn't have included this as part of Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Subscription. I think this product has wide appeal but not universal appeal and as such, shouldn't have been forced on Paizo's subscribers.

Review: Quartermaster for IOS

As many people know, I have slowly been switching much of my computer life from the PC to the Mac. One of the first things I looked for was an application to create army lists. Unfortunately, my search turned up nothing. The big army list software company has been slow to finish its Mac version. This forced me to search elsewhere.

My search lead me to the App Store on my iPad, where I discovered a little App called Quartermaster. The price was only $4.99 so I figured it was worth the gamble. The version I originally purchased was version 2.0. Version 2.1 was released a few days after my purchase which fixed a couple of errors but unfortunately, it was pulled from the App Store while Sean Rogers, the programmer, could make the app compliant with Games Workshop's rules. I should mention that this app also works on an iPhone or an iPod Touch as well.

Review: Incredible Insects Volume 1

In my life as a DM I like to have as many options as possible, especially when my gaming group has more knowledge than is good for them. While browsing DriveThruRpg one day, I came across Incredible Insects: Volume 1. The price was less than a dollar so I pulled the trigger and made the purchase. This supplement was published by Escape Velocity Gaming.

Review: Scarrport: City of Secrets

Cities have always held a special part in my campaigns. It started off innocently enough when one of the players in my first campaign wanted to spend some of the gold they had liberated from an evil wizard. This was over 30 years ago but I still remember it.

At this time city settings were few and me being 12 years old I didn't have the money to buy one. I had to ad-lib. As time went on, and I had managed to save a few bucks, I started to purchase a few supplements. From Waterdeep to Sanctuary I enjoyed running adventures in these exotic locations.