Durin's Gap - part 2

Turn 1

Thane Gudnam felt a sense of pride as with practised ease the dwarf battle line formed up. Warriors made final checks on their equipment and officers shouted commands. Staring out at the enemy Gudnam saw they had started to advance as if compelled by some silent order. A hush descended on the dwarfs as Gudnam stepped forward and opened the book of grudges that he carried. As he read aloud from the ancient book he could see the effect it had on the dwarf's around him they gripped thier weapons tightly, stood that bit taller and seemed to grow in confidence. Gomil leader of the hammerers shouted "incoming!" seconds later with a hideous scream a skull flew over the dwarven army and exploded behind them in a shower of razor sharp bone fragments. Turning to the nearby cannon crew Gudnam shouted "show these abyss born scum what a really war machine looks like" moments later a sound like thunder echoed off the mountains flanking Durin's gap the battle had began.


Jean D'Noir gave the silent order for her army to advance. With low moans and the creaking of ancient armour they set of at a shuffle towards the dwarf line. On her right the ghoul pack loped forward eager to taste dwarf flesh. Closing her eyes Jean started to chant softly she opened her mage sight and saw the winds of magic blowing across the skies above her. multi coloured clouds of pure energy. With her mage sight Jean could see the thin strands of dark magic that connected her to each undead warrior in her army. Jean continued to chant drawing the black coiling energy of dark magic down into her body and then sending it back out towards her undead charges as she watched the the strands of dark energy grew visible thicker. Her spell complete jean was jolted back to her senses by a loud noise like rolling thunder. As she watched an iron ball slammed into a regiment of skeletons smashing aging bone and rusted armour into dust scything down several skeletons before burying itself in the ground.


Turn 1 kicked off with the undead advancing as fast as they could towards the dwarf line. While the dwarfs chose to whittle down the living dead with their superior firepower. The dwarf cannon took out several skeletons while the undead catapult overshot by some distance. Jean cast a spell to increase the range of her control over her undead from 12" to 24". while Gudnam used his magic book to enthuse the dwarf warriors unit giving them +1 LD. in the reserve phase they undead continued to move toward the dwarf line.

Turn 2

Engineer Sargent Kila Rockheart watched as the ghouls ran towards his regiment of thunderers. Calmly he gave his orders in a loud clear voice "Take aim!, Mark you targets!, "Fire!" There was a satisfying roar of black powder weapons being unleashed. Through the flashes and smoke of discharging weapons Kila saw several of the loathsome undead plucked of their feet by lead bullets.

With a big grin he turned to his regiment"well done la..........". Several of his charges stood looking sheepish their faces blackened, beards smoking and horribly mangled arquebuses in their hands. Kila shook his head "How many times? Don't use so much bloody powder!"

Jean watched as the dwarfs cannon fired again blasting more of her army to dust. Turning to the nearby catapult she shouted "Silence that infernal machine!". As the catapult crew worked to fire their machine Jean pulled a handful of human teeth from a pouch on her belt "I think some reinforcements might be in order" she said. Chanting softly she sucked in a mouthful of dark energy and blew it softly over the teeth in her palm before throwing them onto the ground. As her spell finished she mouthed one word "Arise". All around her skeleton warriors burst from the ground.

Turn 2 saw the undead continue to advance at all speed towards the dwarf lines. More undead fell to crossbows, handguns (although three dwarfs managed to misfire) and cannon fire(removing 6 zombies). Jean cast a spell to raise seven new skeletons. The undead catapult managed to land a shot on the dwarf cannon killing a crewman.

Turn 3

Killa Rockheart had to admit that although the dwarf built aquebus his regiment carried were a marvel of modern technology there were definitely areas for improvement. Loading time was something that really needed to be worked on"reload RE...LOAD!" Killa shouted panic entering his voice as the filthy horde of Ghouls broke into a ragged charge.

The ghouls were on the thunderers in seconds and a vicious melee broke out Killa swung his aquebus two handed like a club as he attempted to hold two slavering ghouls at bay. Distracted as he was Killa didn't noticed the ghoul behind him until it's venomous teeth sank into his arm.

Jean allowed here self a smile of satisfaction as the ghoul pack on her right flank swarmed all over the dwarven regiment. Using their numbers the ghouls pulled down the dwarf warriors clawing and biting them as they bore them to the ground. The dwarfs broke throwing down their weapons and fleeing the ghouls following close behind hacking at the fleeing dwarfs. Jean watched with a mix of fascination and revulsion as some of the ghouls fell on the dead bodies of the dwarfs and began to feed.

Turn 3 saw things really hot up. The undead started to close to within charge range. The ghouls charged the thunderers and beat them in combat forcing the dwarfs to rout (ghouls cause fear so the dwarfs broke automatically) several ghouls failed to follow up the dwarfs but stayed to feed on the dead (nice) while the rest gave chase to the routing dwarfs. Seeing the thunders rout the dwarf cannon crew panicked and fled too.

The undead artillery failed to land on target again. Jean cast a second summon skeletons spell adding three more skeletons to the seven from last turn, leaving her with only a couple of magic points left.

The dwarfs passed their fear checks and the dwarf warriors charged the zombies and the Hammerers led by Thane Gudnam charged the skeleton regiment. The dwarf warriors in an abject display of combat ability failed to kill any zombies while losing two of their number resulting in another auto break result. The Hammerers showed the rest of the army how to do it smashing up four skeletons and watching more crumble as instability took hold.

Turn 4

Thane Gudnam swung his hammer two handed in a wide arc smashing another skeleton into dust. All around him the hammerers were pushing forward over piles of rusted armour and broken bones that had been skeleton warriors. As the fight swung in the favour of the dwarfs the magic binding the skeletons started to unravel and skeletons collapsed into heaps. "Destroy them! destroy them all " shouted Gudnam sensing victory.

Kurt Ricter slashed his evil glowing rune sword across the back of another dwarf. Centuries of hate and frustration gave strength to his blow. Unlike the zombies he led, Kurt was self aware. In life he'd been a hero to his people in death he was a slave to a wizard aware of his undead life yet with no control of it Kurt took his anger out on the fleeing dwarfs around him.

Turn 4 saw the ghouls reforming having chased the thunderers of the table. The dwarf crossbows attempted to charge the zombies in the flank as the chased the fleeing dwarf warriors however fear got the better of them and they failed to charge. The hammerers destroyed the skeleton regiment. Heni Trollsbane the dwarf slayer charged the ghouls feasting on the dead thunderers and dispatched them all in a single round of combat.

Turn 5

Olaf Gunnison quarreller Sargent of a crossbow regiment stared across the battlefield. With the dust, smoke and noise it was hard to tell what was going on. His gut told him things weren't going well and his gut was rarely wrong. As he wondered what orders to give his regiment the wind seemed to clear the dust and smoke for an instant. There stood some distance away was a female manling dressed in red and carrying a staff. Olaf quickly decided on his new orders "Shoot the witch!"

Jean cursed it was hard to tell what was going on as the battle descended into chaos. Out of the dust and smoke a fierce looking dwarf wielding two vicious axes appeared heading towards her as fast as his stubby looking legs could carry him. Jean didn't need to think twice, drained of energy she was powerless to stop the evil looking dwarf, she turned on her heels and ran. Quickly outpacing her purser Jean started to relax and then she screamed as a crossbow bolt buried it's self in her thigh.

Turn five saw the magically summoned skeletons charge the hammerers in an attempt to stop them. The undead catapult continued to lob skulls randomly around failing to hit anything at all. the zombies continued to cut down fleeing dwarfs. The ghouls headed towards the rear of the hammerers hoping to set up a charge next turn. Jean headed away from the dwarf troll slayer putting her in front of the dwarf crossbow regiment.

The hammerers smashed the skeletons to pieces. While Heni Trollsbane headed towards Jean. The crossbows shot jean taking two of her three wounds.

Turn 6

Thane Gudnam and the hammerers gave a great cheer of victory as the last of the skeletons facing them collapsed. "victory!" shouted Gudnam instead of a roar of dwarven approval he was expecting his cry was meet with animalistic howls and shouts of panicked dwarven voices coming from the rear of his regiment. Suddenly panic reigned all around Gudnam. Gomil the hammerer leader fell forward a vicious creature in dirty rags raking his back with filthy razor sharp talons. "Hold HOLD!" shouted Gudnam even as the dwarfs broke in flight.

Jean D'Mort cried with pain she was hurt bad and she knew it. In front of her dwarf warriors were re-loading their deadly crossbows. Behind her the evil looking dwarf with the axes was closing in fast. Summoning every last ounce of power Jean started to chant the words of a spell of flight to allow her to escape her predicament. The spell was simple but in her panicked state and with pain flaring through her leg she fumbled the words. She heard the twang of crossbows being fired looking up she just had time to say "Oh sh........." Jean D'Mort was dead.

Turn 6 saw the battle come to a bloody end. The ghouls charged into the rear of the Hammerers regiment cutting down dwarfs and forcing them to rout. The zombies chased the dwarf warriors of the table. Jean tried to cast a flight spell but failed an intelligence test so was shot dead by the dwarf crossbows instead.

Aftermarth

Olaf Gunnison peered into the dawning light of morning from behind the improvised barricade that surrounded the baggage train. It had been several hours since the last undead attack on the survivors of the dwarf army and in the improving light it seemed the undead were gone.

The dwarfs losses in battle had been so heavy that Olaf a mere Sargent was the most senior officer left alive. He and his crossbows had retreated to the baggage train as darkness fell organising the camp followers Olaf and the survivors had fought of several undead attacks over night as wounded and lost dwarfs had emerged out of the darkness to seek the safety of the baggage train.

As Olaf rubbed his tired eyes he see saw two figures emerge out of the morning gloom "Stand to!" shouted Olaf. All around him weary dwarfs manned the baricades clutching weapons. A voice called out in dwarvish " Stop pointing those ruddy crossbows at me or I'll shove me axe up your jacksee lad" Olaf quickly reconisged Heni the troll slayer covered in ichor and bone dust and supporting a heavily wounded dwarf."I think the Thane might need a bit'o help" shouted Heni.

Result a draw

The Battle of Durin's Gap - part 1

Jean D'Noir stared out into the hazy morning light at the assembling dwarf host and cursed loudly she hadn't expected to meet an army coming west through Durin's gap but there they were anyway blocking her path east. She knew the Dwarfs must have come from Khazd-Norn but what were they doing here? It didn't seem to matter now the dwarfs were rapidly forming up for battle and if she was to complete her mission they would have to be dealt with. Durin's gap was a narrow strip of flat land traveling east to west through the southern grey mountains here at it's narrowest point there was no way Jean's army could carry on east with the dwarfs formed up in front of them. "It looks like we'll have to make them move" Jean sighed to the two undead warriors stood at her side.

Jean scanned the enemy lines and counted four regiments of dwarfs. She turned to walk away just as the dawning sun caught something large and metallic. Jean shielded her eyes and saw a large cannon being wheeled into place in the centre of the dwarf line she cursed loudly again. Turning to the two passive undead warriors at her side Jean spoke "return to your regiments and prepare for battle"

Thane Gudnam was woken with a start by a stocky dwarf in full armour "think we got a problem thane" said the dwarf. Grabbing his gear the thane followed the dwarf towards the edge of camp. Gudnam put his dwarven crafted spyglass up to his eye and scanned the western horizon as the undead host focused into site the Thane grinned "Looks like we won't have to march all the way to the plain of winds" he said cheerfully the enemy have come to us. He turned to Gomil the leader of the Hammerers regiment "Form the troops up, missiles on the wings, infantry and artillery in the centre" Gomil turnned sharply and hurried off.

Gudnam raised his spyglass again "These undead really are a foul sight" he mused to himself. Skeleton warriors stood eerily still tattered rags blowing in the morning breeze, rusted weapons and battered shields held firmly in their bony grip. Nearby a unit of zombies waited rotting flesh barely holding in liquefied inner organs. Gudnam fought back the urge to gag as one zombie lifted a severed hand to its mouth. Screeching on the breeze drew the thane's attention to the far end of undead battle line were a pack of feral ghouls scraped and bickered over a corpse. Next to the ghouls Gudnam saw a catapult it's skeleton crew working hard to load it with what looked suspiciously like a skull.

Gudnam turned towards his army "It's going to be a long day" he said to no one in particular.

Above the two armies deploy for battle.

Hopefully this will be the first of several battles in a little narrative campaign between my new undead and dwarf armies. I hope to get a full write up with pictures on the blog in the next couple of days. I have posted up a little background story for the campaign (see the post below this one) and this post gives you the background to the first battle a meeting engagement between two detached forces in a narrow mountain pass.

The rules used for this battle were WFB 3rd edition (not really a surprise there) and the two armies where 1000pts each. I used the Warhammer armies book lists as a guide but basically ignored some of the min/maxs and rules for low level characters as unit champions because at 1000pts these conditions where a little to restrictive. On to the armies

The Dwarven detachment from Khzad - Norn

General - Thane Gudnam -level 15 dwarf hero with heavy armour, double handed weapon and the book of grudges (level 1 enthuse spell)

Heni Trollsbane - level 10 troll slayer hero with magic axe (frenzied)

11 Hammerers (+4 shock elites) including standard,musician and leader equipped with heavy armour,shields and double handed weapons

10 thunderers with arquebus and light armour

10 crossbowdwarfs with crossbow and light armour

20 Dwarf warriors including standard,musician and leader equipped with light armour and shields

1 3 man cannon

1 baggage train of one cart and 5 camp followers



The Undead column of Jean D'Noir

Jean D'Noir - Level 15 necromancer

Kurt Ricter - Level 10 undead hero with light armour, shield magic sword (baneblade) leading the zombies

Harald Kruger - level 10 undead hero with light armour shields and magic spear (hellhoned)
leading the skeletons

3 man undead catapult with screaming skull ammunition

19 skeleton warriors including standard and musician equipped with spears, shields and light armour

29 zombies including standard and musician equipped with bones, clubs and severed limbs

20 Ghouls equipped with poisonous claws, teeth and a bad attitude

Next the battle as it happened............

The coming of war

2 months ago

Jean D'noir the necromancer entered the room and took in the scene before her. The man she called Master was sat at his large ornate desk constructed from the bones of some long dead beast surround by piles of scrolls,books and maps deep in concentration. The room was lit by several black candles each set in a human skull hung on the walls. In front of the desk was a rug of human skins sewn together in a macabre patch work. She moved swiftly into the room "You summoned......." the words died on her lips as the man raised a hand to indicate silence.

She studied the man more closely as she waited for him to speak. When they had first meet he had still been young, handsome in a dark way with thick black hair and those deep purple eyes that had sent a thrill through her every time they meet hers. Now many years on the study of dark magic had taken it's toll. His hair was now gone leaving him totally bald, his once perfect skin was aged wrinkles forming around his eyes and mouth. Once they had been lovers but her master had long stopped caring about such things a fact she was truly grateful for as she regarded his now aged body.

Her thoughts were interrupted as the man looked up at her. She was caught in the gaze of his purple eyes and realised that despite his appearance her master wielded massive power. His body had suffered under the ravages of time and dark magic but in return his ability to control and use magic has increased beyond measure. Jean was a powerful sorceress herself but she new compared to her master she was like a child compared to a giant, there was still much she could learn from this man she thought.

Her master spoke his voice thin and reedy again much changed from the rich mellow voice he had possessed in the early years of their relationship. "I have located the item we seek" he said waving a hand across the map on his desk. Jean bent forward to look closer as she did her master brought a long bony finger down onto the map. Jean gave a sharp intake of breath "do you think the towns folk will just let us walk in and take it?" she said. "Why would I care what such insects think who are they to dare challenge me?" said her master angrily.

Hearing the danger in her masters voice Jean moved to steer the conversation on "A couple of regiments of skeletons should do. I can be there within a week". "No" said her master "we need an army". "I hardly think that will be......" Jean started to say before her master silenced her with a look."We are not the only ones looking for the treasure we seek. Others of our kind desire to posses it and their spies are everywhere" said the master " we need a diversion something to focus eyes away from our true intentions we need a...........war"

The conversation continued Jean listened carefully as her mastered outlined his plans for an invasion south into the petty kingdoms of the border princes to fight a war that was nothing more than a diversion aimed at securing a powerful treasure.

1 week ago

Heinrich Gotlieb chancellor of Baron Hendrik of Gelderland entered through the massive wooden double doors and into the throne room of the dwarven hold of Khazd-Norn. The dwarf herald next to him launched into a long introduction that involved giving Heinrich's family tree back at least ten generations. Heinrich studied his surroundings "say what you like about dwarfs" Heinrich thought to himself "but by the gods they are the finest craftsmen". He looked up to the high vaulted ceiling and then down the perfect block work walls everywhere he looked there were magnificent stone carvings of dwarfs inlaid with gems and precious metals.

A loud cough broke Heinrich from his thoughts the rather disgruntled dwarven herald raised a bushy eyebrow "You may proceed" he said in a gruff voice waving his hand towards the other end of the room.

As he proceeded towards the high dais at the other end of the room Heinrich got his first site of King Durak Flamebeard of Khazd-Norn. Sat upon the famous Iron Thorne of Khazd-Norn sat a dwarf in a suit of highly polished steel plate, a red fur trimmed cloak clasped with a huge ruby hung around his shoulders upon his head a crown of gold inlaid with more rubies and in the centre a rare fire diamond.

Heinrich bowed low "Your highness I come with a message from my liege lord of the up most urgency. He begs that you come to our aid we........" Heinrich was stopped short by the sound of loud tutting. From the shadows to the right of the throne stepped a an old white bearded dwarf wearing long blue robes covered in silver stars. "You manlings are always in such a hurry, before the king can discuss business the proper protocols must be observed...........

Heinrich opened his eyes slowly, his head pounded and his throat was parched. Dwarven ale was stronger than anything he'd ever drunk including Kislevite vodka and some very fine Tilean wines. He comforted himself with the fact that the ale drinking had been necessary to seal the oaths of alliance. It hadn't been easy the dwarfs had bargained hard and had managed to negotiate some very good trade deals. In the end though the dwarfs knew that if they didn't support the human kingdoms to southwest against the army of undead pouring out of the mountains they could well be next "not that they would admit it thought" thought Heinrich sourly.

The agreement had been struck the dwarf king would send a small force through Durin's gap to join with the human armies gathering on the plain of winds. Then as soon as the full might of Khazad-Norn could be raised the king would lead the host west himself to crush the army of dead threatening them all. Heinrich raised a small smile the balance of this war had just changed dramatically, then as if smiling had been to much effort he sunk back into his bed to nurse his hangover.

4 days ago

Thane Gudnam looked around at the small army he had been given the honour of commanding. His own clan warriors stood still waiting for the order to march most were armed with the traditional axe and hammers of dwarf warriors but full one third, the best shots in the clan carried crossbows.

Behind the warriors came the baggage train and the artillery crewed by the engineers guild and acting as rear guard where a group of engineers armed with those dangerous newfangled black powder handguns. Around him Thane Gudnam was accompanied by a detachment of the kings personal bodyguard of Hammerers the finest warriors of the dwarven army equipped with their deadly two handed hammers that could crush an enemies skull like an egg.

Just as he was about to give the order to march. A dwarf stripped to the waist, clad in a rough bearskin cloak, his hair dyed bright orange and spiked with pig fat appeared. As he got closer Gudnam could see the many scars on the dwarfs torso and the fine axes hanging at his belt. Thane Gudnam let out a soft curse "alright laddy" the newcomer said smiling to reveal several broken teeth."I hears there's fighting to be had?" Gudnam didn't answer the dwarf shrugged his shoulders and head towards the baggage train. Gudnam sighed but knew there was no point trying to stop the slayer joining his command. With a last curse he turned to his command "Forward to Durin's gap".

3 days ago

Jean D'noir careful picked her way across the debris of battle heading for the town centre to pass on the news her master was waiting for. After the din of battle hours early the quite crackling of burning buildings and the odd squawk of a carrion crow seemed oddly quiet.

As Jean reached the town square she saw her master waiting flanked by his skeleton bodyguards the last week of death and slaughter had agreed with him. The old, shuffling and rag adorned man of the mountains of a few weeks ago had been replaced with a man seemingly in his prime his purple eyes, the only thing visible behind his steel war mask glowed with an intense inner fire that Jean had not seen for years.


"What news" said the master. "It is as you expected the princes have allied. Their armies muster on the plain of winds as we speak" Jean replied. Her master nodded slowly but said nothing. After what seemed like hours but could have been only minutes her masters head jerked up and he fixed with a stare. "I want you to take a third of the army. March east through Durin's gap then south. With our enemies armies here facing us their homes are defenceless destroy them! Then march north and fall on their armies from the rear while I hold them in place with the main army."


As Jean headed away from the burning town with her army she smiled. She had always been a sadist at heart. When she was younger she had fought such urges but these days she excepted them, embraced them even. The thought of a dozen defenceless towns at her mercy gave her a thrill it was time to indulge her urges..........

Beer and Beards - 6

For tonight's post I've got a couple of characters and some war hounds.

First up at the top we have the armies only Slayer an independent character armed with a pair of magic axes. Personally for me I think slayers work better as a concept as individuals the idea of whole units of slayers seems wrong to me. This miniature is from the Mantic dwarf characters set. I've tried to match him in colour wise with rest of the army I've also tried the magic weapon technique I started trying with my undead army. All the magic weapons in my dwarf army are fiery orange (makes me think of furnace fires, smelting and such like) as opposed to the sickly green I went for in my undead army. Like the undead I've tried to give the impression of glowing magic weapons by highlighting surfaces near the magic weapons in fiery orange.

Next up we have the armies wizard. Those of you who got into warhammer in later editions are probably saying WTF dwarf wizards?! but back in 3rd WFB edition dwarfs had wizards, not very good ones granted but wizards all the same. This miniature is actual a 1984 pre-slotta miniature from the Citadel Dwarf Kings Court set. I picked him on ebay for a whopping 99p. He's a little smaller than the Mantic dwarfs but I think he's kind of cool. He painted up really nicely too.

Last up we have some Mantic dwarf pitdogs. I got seven in the army set but originally didn't think I could find a use for them. However looking through the dwarf army list it turns out If I have a wizard I can summon a monstrous host which can be made up of several different creatures including war dogs. So I based them up and painted them. As a unit they give my something a bit different to the army namely speed, making them an interesting fast cavalry style unit.

That's it for photos for now. I have a half finished warrior regiment, a unit of crossbows that are undercoated and three wagons to make my baggage train (a feature of most armies in WFB 3rd edition) to finish off by the end of the month. So more painting less blogging for the next few days.

Cheers Jon

Beer and Beards - 5

OK for tonight's post we have the firepower of my Dwarven army. The Mantic Dwarf army comes with 30 dwarfs armed with either handguns or crossbows I decided to go for a 20/10 mix in favour of the crossbows dividing them into three units of 10 dwarfs

I divided the miniatures further putting all the cloaked bodies into the handgun unit (thunderers) and the non cloaked bodies into the two crossbow units.

The top pictures are of one of the crossbow units these guys are normal dwarf warriors and are linked to one of the warrior units by the leader having the same helmets (in this case the boar helmet as both units are from the Boartusk clan, renowned for their pig headiness)

The thunderers are actually from the engineers guild and have the same brown work cloaks as the artillery crews (who are also guild members).

There is still one more unit of crossbows to paint up, they've been undercoated and I've got twelve days to finish them no problem.........

Cheers Jon

Beer and Beards - 4

Tonight's unit from this months on going dwarf project is the elite Hammerers bodyguard of the king. In WFB 3rd edition these guys are +4 shock elites (IE dead hard)

The Mantic army set included a unit of shield breakers (IE dwarfs with double handed hammers). However they didn't really look any different from the rest of the units. So I did a bit of mixing and matching and chose all the bodies with cloaks and closed face helms to to mark the unit out from the rest of the dwarfs as a bit different. I painted the cloaks burgundy too to give them a more elite look.

The command group for this unit were a bit of a problem however. The Mantic army set only contains two command sprues despite giving you three regiments of fighting dwarf's. So a delve into the bits box found me a beastman horn, an empire spear and a lion helmet which with some green stuff (to enclose the helmets) and some extras of the Mantic sprues gave me a musician, leader and standard bearer for this unit.

Hopefully along with the army general and army standard bearer this unit will provide the rock hard core of my dwarf army.

Cheers Jon

Beer and Beards - 3

Right so having declared February "finish my Mantic dwarf army for WFB 3rd edition month". I thought I'd post pictures of some of the dwarf stuff I've finished. First up the artillery.

As stated in a early post I was little disappointed with the Mantic artillery. It was a little plain and the cannon wasn't nearly imposing enough. So both artillery pieces got a bit of upgrading with green stuff to give it a bit more dwarf character. The cannon also got a new barrel in the form of a plastic empire great cannon from the bits box.

the crew have some minor conversions such as the beer mug and the matches. The Mantic artillery only come with two crew so a couple of normal dwarf infantry were drafted in with arms from the artillery crew sprue. I also made a couple of smoking boots as misfire markers. The boots came on the Mantic artillery sprues and I added some cotton wool on a wire frame for the just blown up effect.

Cheers Jon

Life can really screw with your hobbies - part 3

Well I returned to work today after almost three weeks off with a back injury. First memo on my desk from senior management is regarding redundancies, apparently we need to shed 50-60 staff. No compulsory redundancies yet natural wastage and an attractive voluntary scheme are on offer first. No new staff are to be taken on the rest of us are just going to have work harder and longer to cover the shortfall (and be grateful that we still have a job too).

I have to admit I toyed with the idea of taking voluntary in my lunch break and going into the figure painting business. But even after 15 years employment the numbers don't stack up. On top of which one thing that working for Games Workshop in my mis-spent youth taught me is that the quickest way to fall out of love with your hobby is to turn it into a job. As I can't afford to leave/lose my job I can look forward to sleepless nights wondering if I'll end up on the money saving hit list Ho-hum.

Of more concern to my hobby though is an immediate ban on overtime I used to put in a few hours a month to bring in another £50-100 a month most of which goes on toys. That's gone now so the hobby budget has just taken a big hit.

Thinking about at work today though I've decided that I can turn this into a positive. Last week in a fit of boredom I decided to have a good go through the wargames room. It was rather worrying that I had a round 12 unfinished armies and projects. Some are within a whisker of being finished others have a lot to do. I've decided to try and devote one month to each army and project to get it finished. what hobby budget I do have I need to use to finish things rather than start new ones. It's a plan I don't now if it will work but it's worth a try.

First off for February is to finish of my Mantic dwarf army shouldn't be too hard as its 3/4s done anyway...........