Old West civilians for Dead Man's Hand

Got some models from our chums at First Corps. Here are the barman, doctor and shopkeeper:

Spartak Newport robbed in W.A.N.C. Semi-final

Much jamminess from South Ponty ANC as they stole the game with a 2-1 win. The Dark Elves went on to beat Chewie's RAP 3-1 in the final. No match report, except to sat that we'd won it in turn 15 and then lost it in turn 16 with some outrageous elfiness.

Spartak Newport outstanding in F.U.C. Cup final victory.

A semi-final victory by 2-0 against Liquid Green Stuff (and 7-0 in casualties) pitted Spartak Newport against Bellend Conference champions, South Pontypridd Amateur Nuffle Club. With 7 wins out of 7, the Dark Elves were the top rated team this season so far (inc. 22 TD's in those 7 matches) but were missing star players Pussy Showers and Milky Noakes.

Kicking off, Spartak maintained a disciplined, deep defence and allowed SPANC full run of two thirds of the pitch. Terror Bull Tim, now tentacled, tied up a couple of linelves as the Witch Elf Filmy Jizztrap blitzed star Beastman Khorne the Sheep into the crowd in a bold turn 1 move. Unable to forge a way through a tight backline, the game became very tactical with one side probing and the other clenching in the back end to block an easy route through. In turn 5, SPANC thrower Dildo Shaggins was almost sacked by Harold Sheepman, dodged him, but then fumbled a pass in his own half.

Creepy Kevin recovered the ball for Spartak only to get a bashing from Fishy Flaps. Vaginia Wide was only able to retain the ball for a moment for SPANC before getting the horns from Spartak's Gor Blimey. Creepy Kevin recovered to scoop up the football and run in the opening TD.

Turn 7 and SPANC played a card that allowed a free turn for each side, although after each player activation a 2+ had to be rolled to activate the next player. Grr, that gave SPANC enough time to equalise and they went for it, but only a single player was activated. Mangrowth Parks, with Block, Dodge and MA 8, got down one side and pushed back Billy Bellend. In striking distance of the end zone (only 6 squares away), Billy Bellend gored the slack Dark Elf bitch and stunned her. Half time, 1-0 up, two Dark Elves injured.

A great kick from SPANC put the ball on the sideline just a square away from the halfway line. Despite comedy attempts to pick up the ball from Spartak, the Dark Elves were unable to capitalise and Creepy Kevin got hold of it. Then the relentless roll forward began, with Beastmen covering approaches to the ball  carrier and SPANC daring frantic attempts to get at the ball. A desparate blitz by Mangrowth Parks saw a chance to get the ball but he got skulls (how we laughed). 2-0 and the opposition down to 8 players with just 4 turns left.

A good kick by Spartak and the impenetrable defensive formation that worked so well in the first half stifled the Dark Elves again as Ikkl Pickle and Harold Sheepman took out two more Dark Elves. Skipper Vercengoaterix took out ball-carrier Creamy Muff but a fumbled catch by Jonny Spunkmonk restricted Spartak to a 2-0 win.

The Firestorm United Conference cup in the bag, Spartak's next match is in the semi-final of the Welsh Amateur Nuffle Championship Semi-Final against the same team, SPANC. With two of their stars returning from injury, and only Jane Fonda-Cox out with a gnawed leg, the Dark Elf team should have a better chance this time around. The winner will play Chewie's Raging Ass Pirates (Norse) who beat Thin Lizzies 2-1 in the other semi-final.

Firestorm United Conference Cup Report

Wood For You hosted Spartak Newport in the quarter-final of the FUC Cup on 1st November. With a team difference of 280k, the woodies were hot favourites and started the match on fire! A good kick into centre field and a blitz saw a stunned Spartak side starting the game with a plague of wood elves around the ball's landing place within a single move of their own end zone!

Dispossessing woody catcher Voronwe with a bit of help with the chainsaw, the ball landed favourably for the home side. Outblocking the Beastmen, the wood elves smuggled it to Aegnor who lobbed it over to Beleg to open the scoring by turn 3.

And then it was all repeated again! A second blitz followed some very dubious tampering with the sprinkler system (-1 to pass, catch and pick up) and the cheatin' woodies once again swarmed the ball's landing area. A more favourable drop left 3 wood elves between 3 beastmen and the ball. A rogue wizard launched a fireball to even the odds and Spartak thrower Duke of Puke managed a pass to midfield which was fumbled. Half time came but in a piece of uplifting news, Vercingoaterix blitzed Wood For You's star Wardancer into the away fans who promptly broke him! Three other woody injuries thinned their ranks.

Second half, woodies possession and the half-time Spartak team talk yielded violent dividends. With 10 against 9, the Beasties pummelled the flopsy Wood Elves who cautiously caged up and sent out a couple of runners who were promptly beaten to a pulp. Numbers told and Norman the Ninja brilliantly passed to Creepy Kevin to score.

10 faced 6 in extra-time and it was no contest. Two more woodies were busted up but even with 4 players, the reigning WANC champions were a threat. But Norman the Ninja, inspired by this game, combined with Harold Sheepman to hold off attempts to sack the ball carriers and the Spartak number 9 ran in the winner!

2-1 in extra time, 9-2 in casualties, and Spartak face Liquid Green Stuff in the FUC Cup semis. In the WANC play-offs, Spartak have drawn Ass Whoopers Conference runners-up, the dangerous Troll County Council.

Captain of Spartak Newport, Vercingoaterix, accounted for three of the dodgy woodies during the game, two of them into the crowd.

A few of my Beja:

2-0 down after 2 turns of the second half, Spartak mount a brilliant comeback to draw with the Cardiff Regional Allstars Project. This crowns them champions of the Yam Tarts Conference and ensures a decent draw for the Welsh Amateur Nuffle Championship playoffs. In the Firestorm United Cup, Spartak draw the reigning W.A.N.C. champions, Wood For You.

Left-Right: 9/ Norman the Ninja  10/ Khorne the Sheep  11/ Gor Blimey  12/ Jonny Spunkmonk

And Spartak Newport qualify for the W.A.N.C. (Welsh Amateur Nuffle Championship) play-offs with a 2-0 thrashing of Thin Lizzies. Duke of Puke and Khorne the Sheep score the TD's and Vercingoaterix and Harold Sheepman cause the damage, the latter taking out Lizzies' Krox in the first play of the game.

Left-Right: 5/ Eric the Half a Sheep  6/ Duke of Puke  7/ Billy Bellend  8/ Harold Sheepman

Two games since the last report. In the FUC (Firestorm United Conference) Cup, Spartak beat Quorn Eaters of Khorne 2-1 with TD's from Khorne the Sheep and Creepy Kevin.

Left-Right: 1/ Vercingoaterix  2/ Ikkl Pickle  3/ Creepy Kevin  4/ Terror Bull Tim

Blood Bowl Season Starts!

Spartak Newport kicked of their assault on the Welsh Amateur Nuffle Championship with a dominant 3-0 victory over former champions, Tomb Giants.

Tomb Giants blamed their hopelessly static defence on a heavy defeat at Spartak Newport. Vercingoaterix rounded off an easy win following TD's from Creepy Kevin and the opener from Khorne the Sheep. One nil up at half-time, Spartak employed an offensive formation to defend their lead. The Giants' lines were easily penetrated after their forward line was pinned in place and the superior speed and skill of the Spartak team reduced the Tomb Kings to no chances to score whatsoever. Spartak lineman Harold Sheepman praised his team's disciplined and aggressive defensive line-up and perfect kicking performance.

Dave's tomb guardians were hopeless, often using a reroll each turn. Next match is against veteran W.A.N.C. vegetarians, Quorn Eaters of Khorne in the 1st round of the Firestorm United Conferences Cup.

Some completed Spartak Newport players. Once they are based they'll get names!

Painted a few Conquest Games plastic Norman infantry today:

Step by step painting guide for 28mm British infantry on the RoE Hobby Blog, late war, Vallejo paints:
http://www.greatescapegames.co.uk/rules-of-engagement/hobby/painting-british-infantry

A preview of the new Blood Bowl team, Spartak Newport, in progress for the new Welsh Amateur Nuffle Cup season in September.  The team will consist of 11 Beastmen and one big Beastman and is being painted  a few players at a time in between other projects.

Colquhoun pops out of the Lonesome Doves after a mighty fine hand from one of the girls.

A view from a corner of Delamar, Arizona.

Bob Crowfoot after having a wee behind the cantina.  On the rooftop, John Bones smells something fishy.

John Bones surveys the scene, wondering if he'll take in some cheap whiskey and poker or pop into the Lonesome Dove for some humpin' and pokin'.

Just finished some terrain. Here's Virgil Stokes creeping creepily by the livery stable.

Lars Von Cloft, businessman and owner of the Lonesome Dove, one of Delamar's bustling saloons.  Von Cloft is famed for his understated manner, plain living, and willingness to grind anyone who gets in his way into dust.

A sinister western stereotype, Virgil Stokes is the projected face of terror for businessman Lars Von Cloft.  This feared gunfighter is known for his mild manner and unemotional love of putting men in the ground.

Sudanese riflemen fight to the last against screaming, bloodthirsty tribesmen to prevent the capture of the baggage.

The Scots and Egyptians fall back as the Beja advance.

The Gordons come under accurate fire from Beja musketeers but launch a punishing volley in response.

Played my first game of Death in the Dark Continent for a year this weekend. Myself and Mark M commanded the Beja against Ian and Rob with a British-Egyptian force.  The scenario saw the British-Egyptian force discovering Beja scouts, giving chase and being engaged by a numerous enemy detachment. The British corralled their baggage in secure position behind the Gordons and Egyptians as their Bazingers discouraged their counterparts and then launched devastating attacks from an area of high grass.

As the main Beja force emerged, they swung round to isolate the Sudanese - having to guard the right flank from a handful of warriors - from the main battle.  The chief led the mass of warriors against the Scots, attempting to hold them in place and penetrate their lines.

Bob Crowfoot is Von Cloft's silent assassin, totally fearless and ruthlessly efficient.  He worked in partnership with a mining partnership when his employers sold their claim and left him out of pocket.  Shunned because of his race, his infrequent appearances around town add to his mystique and stokes fear in anyone who crosses Von Cloft.

"Clover", real name Matt Masterson, is Canadian-born of Irish immigrants whose parents died three years prior from a miner's affliction that destroys the lungs.  Taken in by Von Cloft at the age of fourteen, he has established a reputation as a quick tempered and extremely lucky gunfighter.

John Bones is the meanest son-of-a-bitch you could ever have the misfortune to meet, especially over a game of poker which is his only vice next to cheap liquor and cheap pussy. A mere gaze of his cold, dead eyes is enough to sober up any unfortunate bastard he eyeballs.

James Colquhoun, another member of the Von Cloft gang, is an enforcer for the town's protection racket. Cited for 4 fatal shootings in Delamar in 1889, Colquhoun is also known for spending like it's going out of fashion on local whores and tinned fruit.

And so a new project begins with Dangerous Dan McAdam, notorious drunk and henchman of Lars Von Cloft.  McAdam is rumoured to be the muscle behind stagecoach robberies heading out of Delamar, Nevada.

And here is the finished baggage element for my British-Egyptian force:

This is the base for my baggage element, a news crew from Perry Miniatures: http://www.perry-miniatures.com/product_info.php?cPath=23_35_51&products_id=2444
Here's the base:

Had a good look at the new Victrix Athenian hoplites, made a few up and did a comparison with other manufacturers:

http://www.greatescapegames.co.uk/clash-of-empires/stu-blog/victrix-athenians

And the Gordon command is finished!

Part way through the command for my British-Egyptian force for Death in the Dark Continent.

New website goes live!

Pop over to www.greatescapegames.co.uk
I will be maintaining a WW2 and Clash of Empires blog on the site, leaving this one for other stuff.
More details:

Loads of new stuff on the completely rebuilt website and shop.

Dedicated sections for Ancients/Medieval and WW2.
Hobby Blogs for both for Ancients/Medieval and WW2.
New downloadable, free army lists - dozens now online.
Rules of Engagement Special Offer.
New Hitler Youth released (see pic below).
Details of Age of Ravens, the Dark Age source book for Clash of Empires.
New WW2 and Dark Age army deals.
New basing accessories store section.
Details of upcoming shows and tournaments.

Egyptian Infantry:  The last unit of the British-Egyptian force while watching the shockingly bad movie, Rules of Engagement.

Not too much painting activity in the last two weeks. I've been finishing up the Age of Ravens project, doing tons of stuff for the new GEG website, took a wee holiday, and spent some time researching Welsh Early Medieval battlefields.  Still, I have managed to paint a few soldiers for my Sudan project and will post pics soon.

Sudanese: Finishing off the rifles as I did with the Gordons, the bases were done.  I did use a different skin colour with some of the models; Charred Brown mixed with grey, white added for the highlights, finished off with a Vallejo Sepia/Devlan Mud wash.

Sudanese: I painted the rifle as I have with the Gordon Highlanders; adding Medium Fleshtone to the base colour strips were painted on the rifle.  A further lighter strip was painted followed by a (not pictured) strip of Charred Brown in between the lighter strips.

Sudanese:  The belts were highlighted with a bluey-grey and then given a careful covering of black ink.  The rifle is a mix of Flat earth and Charred Brown.

Sudanese: "What are you doing with that tarbush, it's yellow!"  No worries, kids, it a Medium Fleshtone basecoat. Red or yellow do not go well over white so I use a flesh colour for the basecoat.  For yellow, I'll just highlight it up and then wash it yellow ink. 

 For red I use Vallejo Gory Red over the tarbush.  By this time I have also painted all of the belts black.

Sudanese Infantry:  It's a limited pallette!  These are the colours I'll be using:

Uniform: White

Flesh: Vallejo Charred Brown, Burnt Umber, Flat Earth, Brown Sand, White, Devlan Mud/Black or Vallejo Sepia/Devlan Mud Wash

Belts/Boots/Sling: Black

Tarbush: Vallejo Medium Fleshtone, Gory Red

Rifle: Vallejo Flat Earth/Charred Brown, Medium Fleshtone

Steel:  Vallejo Natural Steel, Black

Brass: Vallejo Brass/Charred Brown

I did two different skin tones. The one below is a base of Charred Brown followed by a mix of Burnt Umber/Flat Earth..

The next stage is a broad highlight using Flat Earth.

 Then Brown Sand is added to Flat Earth for raised highlights.