Thursday 28 April 2011

Dark Age gaming - Free rules find!!!

I have just finished reading the excellent book by Stewart Binns, Conquest. Set in the time of the Norman invasion of 1066, it chronicles the extraordinary life and trials of Hereward of Bourne, the last true English man. He alone stood up against William the Bastard, Duke of Normandy, to gain true and justice for the oppressed English that were rules under an Iron Norman heel.
How true this book is to the actual events is anyone guess, but it is an awesome read.

 So i ask you cry, what has this to do with Dark Age gaming? Well a part from a gripping read  it is quite useful for getting some good ideas for Dark Age gaming scenarios.

Which leads me on to an excellent set of FREE, Dark Age rules that i stumbled upon last night. They are called Brytenwalda and are very similar to Ganesha Games Song of Blades rules. The rules are 31 pages long with several scenarios and army lists aimed at Dark Age skirmishing and can be downloaded from here;

http://brytenwalda.blogspot.com/

This is a must for anyone interested in Dark Age gaming and also if you are on a budget!

Ian

Saturday 23 April 2011

..and some more photos of WIP

WIP = Work in progress ;-)

OK some shot from the painting tray, yes the only space i have for painting is a small tray, that lives under a bookcase. Not ideal but kind of explains why it takes me ages to get anything painted :-0

First up,"Big Ted", the kids love this model and who wouldn't a Gorilla with a Tommy gun.....


He is going to have a white suit and pink shirt......

Next we have some rare Marauder Miniatures, Space Orks, these are going to end up being red and black, but not Goffs....



My Dixon Rebels........... these will be grey i guess ;-)



Last but not least, my OOP Eldar, i really like these models. I miss some of the old RT stuff. It would be good if GW for an anniversary released all their old models again, Alas i still wouldn't be able to afford them. I believe back in the day these miniatures were £0.80 each! Wow 14 years of inflation.......not only does the newer stuff suffer scale creep but also price creep ;-)


Lucky loft find update....

It has been a while since i last blogged but i have an update on my 'Lucky loft find'.
I have decided to use some of my old 40K miniatures with the 3rd Ed rules i found in the loft and play 40K in 40minutes type games.
The force lists so far are as follows:


40K in 40 minutes 400pts Army Lists(Based on 3rd Edition Rules & Army books)
Army Name:SpaceMarines - Scythes of AzraelTotal Points:395
Model Count:17
Army special rules:
And they Shall Know no Fear: Automatically regroup as they fall back, even if reduced to less than 50%.
Unit NameFormation TypeWSBSSTWIALdSaveUnit SizePtsEquipment & Special Rules
ChaplinHQ554425393+170Bolt pistol, Crozius arcanum, Rosarius(4+ Invulnerable save)
Tactical Squad MarineTroop444414183+585Bolters, Meltagun
Tactical Squad Veteran 444414293+30Power weapon
Tactical Squad MarineTroop444414183+580Bolters, Heavy bolter
Scout SquadTroop444414184+580Bolters, Heavy bolter
RhinoTroop-4-------150FA=11; SA=11; RA=10. Capacity 10 marines, no Terminators
Army Name:Imperial Guard - 273rd Kathur Defence ForceTotal Points:385
Model Count:33
"The Lucky Blacks" - By fire, by flame, purge the enemies of the Emperor!
Army special rules:
Unit NameFormation TypeWSBSSTWIALdSaveUnit SizePtsEquipment & Special Rules
Commissar Guius BlackheartHQ554425393+158Bolt pistol, Power fist, CC weapon
Hardened VeteranElite343313185+650Lasgun and Frag grenades
Veteran Sergeant 343313285+20Las pistol and CC weapon
Inf. Pl. Command SquadTroop333313285+544Las pistol, Sword, 
HQ Guardsmen333313175+Grenade launcher
Infantry Squad333313175+1083Lasgun, Las pistol, CC weapon, Meltagun, Auto cannon
Armoured Fist SquadTroop333313175+10130Lasgun, Las pistol, CC weapon,
Chimera -3-------1 FA=12; SA=10; RA=10.
Army Name:Imperial Guard - Catachan XXIXTotal Points:390
Model Count:27
Captain Hodgson XXIX Catachan Death World Veteran's -  "The Spooks" 
Army special rules:
Unit NameFormation TypeWSBSSTWIALdSaveUnit SizePtsEquipment & Special Rules
Captain HodgsonHQ543323385+150Bolt pistol, Scanner, Power weapon
Inf. Pl. Command SquadTroop433313285+120Las pistol, Sword
Deathworld Veteran Squad 1 433313175+674Lasguns, Missile launcher, Comm-link
Deathworld Veteran Squad 2 433313175+662Lasguns, Plasma gun
Deathworld Veteran Squad 3 433313175+662Lasguns, Flamer
Deathworld Veteran snipersElite433313175+360Sniper rifles
Deathworld Veterans PatrolFast Attack433313175+452Lasguns, Meltagun, Frag Grenades
Veteran Sergeant 433313285+10 
Army Name:Space Ork RaidersTotal Points:381
ere we go, 'ere we go. 'ere we go!Model Count:28
Army special rules:
Unit NameFormation TypeWSBSSTWIALdSaveUnit SizePtsEquipment & Special Rules
Thrugg Bullneck - Big BossHQ424423386+136Kustom Shoota-More dakka, Shootier, Choppa, Big Horns
Shoota Boyz 1Troop423412276+12115Shoota, Big Shoota, Rokkit luncha, Burna
  424423376+112 
Shoota Boyz 2Troop423412276+12116Shoota, Big Shoota, Burna x 2
424423376+112
DreadnoughtHeavy Support425(10)  22(3)  190Power Claws, Mega Blasta, Skorcha
Army Name:EldarTotal Points:387
Model Count:17
Army special rules:
Fleet of foot; Can run instead of shoot in the shoot phase, roll D6 add to models move
Unit NameFormation TypeWSBSSTWIALdSaveUnit SizePtsEquipment & Special Rules
WarlockHQ443314184+142Shuriken pistol & Witch blade, Enhance
Dire AvengersTroop443315194+560Shuriken Catapult
Exarch 553316293+124Shuriken pistol & Power weapon
Guardian Defender SquadTroop333314185+580Shuriken Catapult, Scatter Laser
WraithguardElite4455141103+270Wraithcannon, Fearless, Wraithsight
Dark ReapersHeavy Support443315194+3111Reaper launcher
Army Name:HarlequinsTotal Points:390
Model Count:12
Army special rules:
Holo suit: Always counts as in cover with a 4+ save. Any model fighting in CC halves their weapon skill rounding up.
Flip Belts: Treats difficult terrain as open ground. Advance roll 3D6, can attack enemy within 2" with full attacks
Mask of Fear: Any enemy unit fighting in an assault reduces their LD by -1.
Fleet of foot; Can run instead of shoot in the shoot phase, roll D6 add to models move
Dispersed Formation: Unit coherency 4".
Unit NameFormation TypeWSBSSTWIALdSaveUnit SizePtsEquipment & Special Rules
ShadowseerHQ653327310-186Shuriken pistol, Riveblades, Misdirection, Veil of Tears, Psychic powers
Harlequin TroupeTroop53331629-4100Shuriken pistol & CC weapon
Troupe Leader 64331629-112 
Death JesterElite64331429-147Shrieker cannon, power blades
Harlequin TroupeTroop53331629-4100Shuriken pistol & CC weapon
VenomHeavy Support-3-------145FA=10;SA=10;RA=10; Fast, skimmer, open-topped, twin shuriken catapults, transport 6+1
Army Name:Tau - Hunter CadreTotal Points:400
Model Count:30
Army special rules:
Unit NameFormation TypeWSBSSTWIALdSaveUnit SizePtsEquipment & Special Rules
XV8 Shas'vreElite335423283+160xv8 battle suit, Burst Cannon, Fusion Blaster, Multi tracker
Shas'la - Fire warriorsTroop233332174+12120Pulse Rifle
  233312284+10 
KrootTroop43431317-1070Kroot rifle, Field Craft, Infiltrate
Shas'la - Fire warriorsTroop233332174+660Pulse Carbine
DevilfishTroop-3-------180FA=12; SA=11; RA=10. Capacity 12, 
Army Name:SpaceMarines - Space WolvesTotal Points:400
Model Count:16
Army special rules:
And they Shall Know no Fear: Automatically regroup as they fall back, even if reduced to less than 50%.
Acute senses
Counter-attack
Unit NameFormation TypeWSBSSTWIALdSaveUnit SizePtsEquipment & Special Rules
Sven Thunderfist Wolf GuardHQ554425393+170Bolt pistol, CC Weapon, Frag & Krak grenades
Grey HunterTroop444414183+580Bolters, Meltagun
Long FangsHeavy Support444414193+51202 x Heavy bolter, Lascannon, Missile Launcher
SkyclawFast Attack444414183+5130Plasma pistol, Power fist
Army Name:NecronTotal Points:392
Model Count:17
Army special rules:
Necron
Unit NameFormation TypeWSBSSTWIALdSaveUnit SizePtsEquipment & Special Rules
ImmortalsElite4445121103+5150Gauss blaster, Disruption fields
WarriorsTroop4444121103+10180Gauss flayer
DestroyersFast Attack4445121103+1502 x Heavy bolter, Lascannon, Missile Launcher
Scarab SwarmFast Attack2033323105+112 




This is only the start of forces to be created, however i have been thinking of adding an additional rule to army selection and that is allowing smaller squads. This would benefit 'horde' type armies like Imperial guard and Orks by allowing the following minimum model choices:
Elite & Heavy- minimun models 3 (unless this is already less)
Troop & Fast attack - 5 (unless this is already less)


More updates, including photos, of painted units to follow......

Have a great Easter break.

VTI