Travis: Harad Crew

Hello fellow gamers, Travis here with not much to report. I'm back to Uni so I Haven't played any games, I painted a little and saw Spiderman that was my week.

Like i promised I've been working on a Mumak for my Harad army and i might have finished it but my Watcher turned up in the post and the inner child inside took over and i spent nearly a whole day building that. (Which is an awesome model)

So progress on the Mumak travels well, I'm not the kind to show WIP shots so here is a picture of 4 of the Mumak's crew painted and ready to ride.

I decided to use the old Suladan model to represent my Mahud commander, having a strong Harad theme means i have nobody tribal looking and the Mahud Commander would have stood out a little.

Da Crew

 
 Most LoTR players will tell you a Mumak is not worth its points, but how could you pass it up its so big and powerful, but they all say stuff like one bad courage test will send it scampering in the wrong direction. So to counter that I'm putting a War Horn in the Howdah to give the army +1 Courage and in the Howdah means if he is in combat I've already lost the Mumak. Problem solved right? Anyway the Hornblower is Finecast and the box i got is great all 4 of the Command models are in perfect shape and will look awesome once painted.

Thats is for this week, I'll get stuck into the Mumak at Paint night this week and see how we go.

Travis: A Reason not to Live in Middle Earth

Middle Earth is a scary place to live, the free people are fighting against all sorts of ancient evils; and if not for Elves and epic Heroes the Good Guys wouldn't stand a chance. This is very apparent in the minis, as my armies grow my good guys gets more horses and guys running around trying to hit things with a sword. My evil forces have recently acquired some large beasties. I'm working on a Mumak, ordered a Watcher and present to you what is described as Cirith Ungol's most Ancient Evil.

Give me a Hug!

Who Would Win?  The Hobbits apparently...

The model is of course Shelob, i found the model fairly difficult to build, but once completed and painted i would have to say she is my favorite GW Spider. In the game she doesn't really accomplish much. Just pounces around tormenting troops. A Solid hero should see her scuttling off the board.

I also managed to finish the Walking version of Suladan, so when his horse is inevitably shot out from under him i have model to use.

Like i said earlier I'm working on a Mumak, I'll try to finish it this week but it is a big model.

Travis: Return of the Haradrim

Hey all, its been a while. When i started i planned to update every week but that didn't account for Diablo 3.
But now Diablo is out of my system, i played it quite thoroughly and must say i have quite enjoyed going back to Tristam. But i haven't found myself drawn to it for nearly a week which has given me time to sit down and get some stuff painted.

This week ive been building a Mumak for my Harad list, its looking quite awesome and it is a really big model. Here is a pic of it squaring off against an Arachnarok.

 To lead my Harad list ive painted up Suladan as my army general. I'm gonna use him on a horse leading those Haradrim Raiders i started a few weeks ago. Suladan is a Harad king who found the sword of an ancient Harad leader and took it and his title and become the Serpent Lord. In the novels Theoden killed him on the Pelennor fields. In the minis he is a good leader with "lord" level stats.

 

And to follow the Serpent Lord is some Raiders, they are the cheapest cavalry in the game. They will stand in the way of arrows and probably die against any foe who isn't a Hobbit. But someones gotta stop those insidious Hobbits. Right?

 

Also a couple of games have been played, but only one of note. Mark and i recreated the Mines of Moria scenario. The game ended in a draw but the Cave Troll managed to kill Legolas, which was a moral victory for the forces of Moria.

Okay on to next weeks endeavor...

Travis: (Insert Witty Pirate Pun)

Greetings all, for those who undertake/undertook further education can probably understand when i say i haven't had much time for painting this week. My education demands have become quite heavy and i didn't get much painting done.

Since i started the blog, i vowed i would paint at least 1 LoTR model a week, and knowing i would be busy i did just that.
The Fallen Realms book allow you to take 50% bows in the Harad and Umbar list as long as your warriors are limited to the Harad stuff. The rule is called "The Scorpion Sting". Here is my first Haradrim raider painted in the Greens of my "Scorpion Sting Army".

Got Spear, Go Fight

I decided im going to keep all their horses dark and when i paint Suladan he will have a white horse. So people know who to shoot at.

Following my first game of Mordheim using Pirates i thought i would share the models that i used to undertake this game. Unfortunately due to unreliable shooting the Marienburgsmen (or Marienburgers) overwhelmed my scurvy blighters and the Pirates fled at the loss of their Captain.

Here are the shots of my "Noble" pirate crew, who sail under the Jolly Roger of Captain Luigi Vampa, a Smuggler and a Thief. The Captain himself, armed with. Pistols, a Cutlass, Buckler, Peg Leg and Parrot. He commands the crew with his swords edge and promise of gold.

"Ever considered a life of Piracy?"

 This is Fareon, Luigi's First Mate, he knows where to look for valuables. Responsible for navigating the Black Shard. A decent shot with a Crossbow and carries a pair of Hammers.

My Compass indicates we're nowhere near water"

Satara, a fiercely powerful and loyal man. Washed upon the banks of the river Reik. Not sure of his heritage he encounters Luigi and his crew and has been a Pirate ever since. Not much of a talker or thinker, but very handy with a heavy object.

He's allowed the anchor as long as he puts it back

 Young Frederick, a Cabin Boy aboard the ship. Luigi had an undecipherable (except to Luigi) treasure map pinned to his back. So that Luigi didn't need to carry it.

The Map Boy

This is Hugo, he escaped the noose because the Rope was an old fenced rope found in the markets. Hugo was being hung for womanising and murder. Once Luigi found him, he offered him a job. Hugo keeps the Noose as sign of good fortune.

The Womaniser Hugo, always good for a laugh

Aktara is the deadliest man on the Ship, he is the ships gunner and to be honest a little unhinged. Aktara carries a Swivel gun into combat and can often be seen climbing buildings to get a good vantage point.  The others steer clear of him because the Swivel gun attracts a lot of attention.

36" Strength 5 Armour Piercing Death

 Gerhart is an old soldier who took to drinking and rage, two qualities almost a necessity for a Pirate. Luigi loves a good drinker. It doesn't help his archery skills any, but claims he was once a Reikland Marksman so the crew let him try.

Rarrgh my bottle is empty!

The Valiant, Noble and Resplendent Crew of the Black Shard.

I still want to do some more work on my Pirates i need quite a few more models, but im trying to fill every member with a bit of character even the not so important ones. And once the crew is complete i may even make the Black Shard to display them in.

Apart from that i have started building a Shelob, working on a few more Pirates. And an Essay on Dysfunctional Conflict in the workplace...

Back to Work

So for the last 2 weeks I've been in Thailand, it was an amazing holiday. Bangkok is truly great. Its so full on but i couldn't find a Warhammer place anywhere. Everything is so cheap but Warhammer in Bangkok is priced by Australia so i guess no one sells it there.

 

In Phuket

I didnt manage to do any painting there but i did do some before i left and finished off a few models since i got back.

Firstly here is a fancy Deagostini Base for my Fellowship, i did it more brown then it probably should be but that's so my bases tie in with both the display and the rest of my armies (except Gimli).

The Base

As it was

As it should have been

I also managed to finish my next Rohan warband, the army still isnt legal but its getting there.

I went with Eowyn, 4 Royal Guard, 8 Warriors of Rohan

Another bunch of Rohan guys without horses

So that makes my Painted Rohan Army 327 points

Also i have all the tools to defeat the Witch-King

Next on the list is some more Haradrim, i picked up Suladan and some Raiders (uggh horses). Hopefully i can get them done quickly.

Until next time, thanks for reading

The Big Nine

So ive finished Strider this week, thats gives me a complete army.
A 9 model army i like to call the Fellowship of the Ring. Weighing in at 795 points its all most unbreakable and doesnt cost many $ to field.

It does have some major flaws though, 9 models only need to take 5 Casualties to lose the game (4 hobbits and a particular human) so you have to be careful.

"I would have followed you into the fires of Mordor"

 I decided to paint him like an ordinary ranger, ive got the Ellessar model to paint yet anyway.

9 Companions

Heres the army together

Watchers of Karna

I also managed to finish some more harad guys

Haradrim Go!

Okay thats it, no more painting for 2 weeks, if im able to ill post some pics from Bangkok next week.

Travis Smith - Titled

So ive been having troubles with the title recently, after some words with Mark thats all fixed. The Blogs will now be appropriately titled.

I only managed 1 game this week, i played a 400 point game of LotR with Mark. I rocked an alliance of Uruk Hai and Goblins with a Mordor Troll tagged along. Mark was using Warriors of Minas Tirith led by the fearless Faramir. I wont go into anymore details cause i believe Marks wants to post/brag about the game...




So here are some Photos of my painting this week. I have started work on my evil force heres the painted Harad stuff so far. A Hasharin and some Harad bowmen.

Im a Knife, Im a Knife... Cut,Cut,Cut,Cut

Haradrim Warband

2 More members of the fellowship - which leaves only the big guy himself (and some goblins)

"If you would but lend me the Ring..."

"Though... I do not know the way"

That will have to do for now hopefully i can finish up the fellowship before i head of overseas for holidays - we'll see.
Travis

LOTR SBG - Travis Smith

For those of you who know the above abbreviation, well done. The LotR is obvious but SBG? well its Strategy Battle Game. Its what the non-War of the Ring game is called the skirmish base one. The one with the good rules.

So I've really fallen head first into this new LotR stuff, i got the new sourcebooks and I've been furiously planning armies and scouring eBay for good deals. I have my sights set high i want huge armies focused on Pelennor Fields. Im looking at about 4500 points good and 4500 points evil. Although with the new rules Good vs Evil is not the only way to play the game. But this will give me a few 1500 point armies to pick from.

So I started with Rohan last week, made a warband with Merry and 12 Archers which turned out to be illegal so i had to make a new Hero to lead my Archers. I decided on a simple Rohan Captain on a Horse. He doesnt need to hang around the Outriders and as long as i deploy carefully can get him near Gamling quick enough.

It was going to be Hama but Hama is really crappy, So i'm just using the old Hama model as the Captain and converted a mounted version of him. (by cutting of an old Gamlings head).

I dont even have a name badge how an i going to survive?

My Rohan "Army"

And to follow the Blog along i have painted 2 more members of my Fellowship



"I made a promise, Mr Frodo. A promise"



"At least once more, Miss Swann, as always."

Last week i posted a picture of my Coat-of-Arms. I have converted and started with a model to bear such an honoured crest. Here are some shots of the Crest and the WIP of my Horse.

I call her Epona :)

Okay thats all for now, bye bye....

 

Action-less Week - Travis Smith

 

After a slew of games played recently i have had a very lonely week this week, I have not played anything since over a week ago. So i should have heaps of painting to show? Right?

Unfortunately I only got a few things done, im keen to get more LotR done but im waiting on the 5 new sourcebooks, any day now. I find myself listening for the postman.

Once i have the books i'll be able to properly plan some armies. I have a rough idea but who knows maybe there's something i didn't know.

I did get my first LotR warband painted and ready for battle though (I'm fairly confident that this one will be the same).

The "Merry" Men

Notice how Merry leads these men into battle. You need a Hero for every 12 warriors. Merry is the cheapest Rohan hero and he is actually better in a fight then the Rohan Archers.

I got 2 other models done, My fellowship is coming closer to being done (but i will need to paint some bad guys, thinking wargs - better order a Gothmog).

"and my Axe!"

"You need people of intelligence"

Here's something different, back at Christmas my wife bought me a Coat-of-Arms with my family crest. I love it so much that i want to paint it onto a converted Bretonnian model.This is a picture of the Coat-of-Arms now to get it down to a 8mm shield (i hope i can)

Okay see you around hopefully I'll have started my Bretonnian, but its a big weekend out here in South Burnet, some kind of party in the park