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.