tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40320855644110715692024-03-18T15:29:37.580-04:00The LeadHeadBigPaul1ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09209550428128152898noreply@blogger.comBlogger288125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032085564411071569.post-31098125302988797212016-05-26T18:30:00.000-04:002016-05-26T18:30:18.326-04:00Speed Painting: Protectorate of MenothEver since my son was born, I've managed very little in the way of hobby time, and even less in terms of actually playing games. <a href="http://funderhammer.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Funderhammer</a> is the Pressganger for my FLGS, and he told me that they were starting a Journeyman league in a few weeks. I had been feeling a bit stir crazy, and some of you might remember from <a href="http://theleadheadblog.blogspot.com/2015/05/how-to-get-new-warmachine-army-without.html" target="_blank">this post</a> that I already had an army, brand new in the box, waiting to be played. I discussed it with my wife and she was willing to give me one night a week for gaming. <br />
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If you're unfamiliar with <a href="http://privateerpress.com/organized-play/leagues/journeyman-league-rules" target="_blank">Privateer Press' Journeyman League</a>, the basic idea is that each player starts week 1 with a faction's starter box, and the point size of the games goes up every week or two. You earn points for playing games, but <i>also</i> for building & painting new units. By the end of the league, you should be pretty close to having a fully-painted, tournament-sized army. <br />
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But wait - I need to go from not building & painting at all, to building & painting a couple of new units <i><b><u>every week</u></b></i>? On top of that, my chosen faction (Protectorate of Menoth) is traditionally mostly <b>white</b>, a <i>notoriously</i> tricky color to paint? I was gonna have to come up with some ideas, quick!<br />
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Any thoughts of "competition quality" -painted models quickly went out the window - we're aiming for quick 'n dirty "tabletop" quality here. These models were mostly going to be painted in 30- or 45-minute chunks of time that I managed to carve out of the days I'm on babysitting duty, and are meant more to shake the rust off than push my skills. Washes & drybrushing are the rule here, not the exception - once I have a basic 50-point force finished, maybe I'll take more time on a few "centerpiece" models, but not now. <br />
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Here's the technique I came up with:<br />
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Every model was primed with <a href="http://www.thearmypainter.com/" target="_blank">Army Painter</a> Matt White Colour Primer. When they were dry, they all received a <b>heavy</b> coat of Army Painter Soft Tone ink (but GW Seraphim Sepia works well, too):<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjb_3L6IoWs7AMgKABUxjcNr2J9qGIfniD4s4vQF7bhwJAeA7pp-Xb5NYqpzErCvHu-PcVCqbQ4RpiuxZ5mpeOQ8JWkEiJgTwK0az49jqFb24Nb2KLsUt4KnPyQsX8pbs3ML6YKvq05nw/s1600/IMG_20160302_150627261.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjb_3L6IoWs7AMgKABUxjcNr2J9qGIfniD4s4vQF7bhwJAeA7pp-Xb5NYqpzErCvHu-PcVCqbQ4RpiuxZ5mpeOQ8JWkEiJgTwK0az49jqFb24Nb2KLsUt4KnPyQsX8pbs3ML6YKvq05nw/s320/IMG_20160302_150627261.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This pretty much leaves the models khaki. <i>(Note: this would be a great, super-quick way to make a khaki army, Imperial Guard players!)</i><br />
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Next, the models receive a heavy drybrush of off-white (I used Reaper MSP Bleached Bone):<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGgzoPFiBLDB7DoCFy6KqXk-JYyoVOJIiVywaWtPrrrf_AhD_uQKGIeHHLdbkuJ1RH0-8YuT72FCbk16hEP_wiEJndPE28dSfln2OS56hFhSKyCAks4mxwieMg0XoOhnYlj9dMQWDffSM/s1600/IMG_20160508_094330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGgzoPFiBLDB7DoCFy6KqXk-JYyoVOJIiVywaWtPrrrf_AhD_uQKGIeHHLdbkuJ1RH0-8YuT72FCbk16hEP_wiEJndPE28dSfln2OS56hFhSKyCAks4mxwieMg0XoOhnYlj9dMQWDffSM/s320/IMG_20160508_094330.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUUTPWRmjAWlCoqEjuQkVOOTMK7aSdS521wqOOFG7BEoNsNqe1lb7g6Eq1FEP0Pq1nJwTugxNdniz-nsFQ4d-KDQNNgfzunPlUo9RfxlbNCYoReNDaoAxyLbz9u9-CidcJh_84bnIY74I/s1600/IMG_20160508_101348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUUTPWRmjAWlCoqEjuQkVOOTMK7aSdS521wqOOFG7BEoNsNqe1lb7g6Eq1FEP0Pq1nJwTugxNdniz-nsFQ4d-KDQNNgfzunPlUo9RfxlbNCYoReNDaoAxyLbz9u9-CidcJh_84bnIY74I/s320/IMG_20160508_101348.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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Next, the purples were done with Vallejo Model Color Magenta - this is several shades lighter than I want the end result to be:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguO59ojax-xuKws77IpYIxEj7QcVB6bxQns4SXl586dnBFzYvm5Dx6G1Bym8q1sQUEiZSGzEtbpSSvqGDCxpNSZyz1T9VUTr5KmgxrkHWn_XKyvC-9BgOxdRONBb-pKH0VjKPnMSSmHpU/s1600/IMG_20160508_124518.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguO59ojax-xuKws77IpYIxEj7QcVB6bxQns4SXl586dnBFzYvm5Dx6G1Bym8q1sQUEiZSGzEtbpSSvqGDCxpNSZyz1T9VUTr5KmgxrkHWn_XKyvC-9BgOxdRONBb-pKH0VjKPnMSSmHpU/s320/IMG_20160508_124518.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Next, the purple is heavily washed with Army Painter Purple Tone ink:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQXaqh9FGefxzDYIGVq21eEmwfTuWkUyo2VlxJCgJFSPRzU2te29Aw3l96Y_ROzKz-ciWeKlxVrASt7PVKe7x3xfjcqAViMcphqvoSL3GF_izHIZO5Ke2FWziynpgvC1hWyefabrHrmaQ/s1600/IMG_20160508_125526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQXaqh9FGefxzDYIGVq21eEmwfTuWkUyo2VlxJCgJFSPRzU2te29Aw3l96Y_ROzKz-ciWeKlxVrASt7PVKe7x3xfjcqAViMcphqvoSL3GF_izHIZO5Ke2FWziynpgvC1hWyefabrHrmaQ/s320/IMG_20160508_125526.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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The metallics were painted with Vallejo Model Color Brass & Vallejo Model Air Steel:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS3HTCxoV7ZTMS_NKsl1ZtXQFhcwpEzPsn-w9a-Kqc0UmqGPGkfCiFRNJ2H2CPmwQD9Mu9WLeA2Fv-diR1r_R8uX2IemAMfeXHpaC1nuGbfP7AWZ-x18xMy3xm8SIC_O5nHUJy6s_Xbxg/s1600/IMG_20160508_142630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS3HTCxoV7ZTMS_NKsl1ZtXQFhcwpEzPsn-w9a-Kqc0UmqGPGkfCiFRNJ2H2CPmwQD9Mu9WLeA2Fv-diR1r_R8uX2IemAMfeXHpaC1nuGbfP7AWZ-x18xMy3xm8SIC_O5nHUJy6s_Xbxg/s320/IMG_20160508_142630.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCZRzxdC7dhhjLULiq7O7CDhJC471SsiVT265v03AfU1JtH_WH1cxJqoWj0yg0ctef73h2Sb4Xlwav1cOMV8BhfGYQTXgRxcegJimz7kFTFJ9pVMWvTfVez4wWT2hA1JCqCuh2_HI0oSc/s1600/IMG_20160508_142638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCZRzxdC7dhhjLULiq7O7CDhJC471SsiVT265v03AfU1JtH_WH1cxJqoWj0yg0ctef73h2Sb4Xlwav1cOMV8BhfGYQTXgRxcegJimz7kFTFJ9pVMWvTfVez4wWT2hA1JCqCuh2_HI0oSc/s320/IMG_20160508_142638.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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The brass was washed with Army Painter Soft Tone ink, and the steel with Army Painter Dark Tone ink:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqsCLRmBkXSt6gq4WN2g-jdR4aiMoWkwh6Tw1FwyaAJdB1APOKYh62W-Uz6kVZCOaNozAnAUTWt2erQTbbiu2tE7XWeGDZ6HPtBx3VCp-z-KdAAcEZks1p-kRZwulCgV3Q1KbTaI7uDcU/s1600/IMG_20160509_195615.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqsCLRmBkXSt6gq4WN2g-jdR4aiMoWkwh6Tw1FwyaAJdB1APOKYh62W-Uz6kVZCOaNozAnAUTWt2erQTbbiu2tE7XWeGDZ6HPtBx3VCp-z-KdAAcEZks1p-kRZwulCgV3Q1KbTaI7uDcU/s320/IMG_20160509_195615.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsYLif8vOqlBBuUCW-GIfpNHN2wJ8QDMexs0DkAUiZL4SBWQwDDT2S-hWen605HM4aCHseruVSg9kBuhsLuxGFK41O-72Bgy-7VJ8ynzfE2C_TuMHTCQr4bmzzScPeVuEQ5gN_l7L9Avc/s1600/IMG_20160509_195624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsYLif8vOqlBBuUCW-GIfpNHN2wJ8QDMexs0DkAUiZL4SBWQwDDT2S-hWen605HM4aCHseruVSg9kBuhsLuxGFK41O-72Bgy-7VJ8ynzfE2C_TuMHTCQr4bmzzScPeVuEQ5gN_l7L9Avc/s320/IMG_20160509_195624.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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...and that's pretty much it. On models with a LOT of metallics I might do a quick drybrush with Vallejo Model Air Chrome, and when the whites get a little too muddy I occasionally make a glaze with Vallejo Glaze Medium + Army Painter Pure White to bump them up a bit, but usually that's more on infantry units. Quick, easy, & "good enough"!<br />
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<br />BigPaul1ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09209550428128152898noreply@blogger.com106tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032085564411071569.post-41494530229045499652016-05-19T18:30:00.000-04:002016-05-21T14:59:05.530-04:00Quick 'N Dirty Tournament Tray...so one of the booths I stopped at and chatted for a while during Adepticon was <a href="https://www.brokenegggames.com/" target="_blank">Broken Egg Games</a>. They make various cool items, but a big focus is their very cool <a href="http://www.brokenegggames.com/miniaturetrays/tournamenttrays.html" target="_blank">tournament trays</a>. "I should get one of these", I thought.<br />
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Oh wait.<br />
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I <i>did</i> get one of these.<br />
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<b>Last</b> year, at Adepticon 2015.<br />
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...and it promptly got a half-assed coat of primer, and has been sitting on a shelf in my garage for a year.<br />
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So anyway, I decided to remedy that - I've actually been playing every week lately, and am halfway considering a tournament in the fall, and a tournament board would come in handy. However, I needed it to be done as quick and easy as possible, so here's what I did.<br />
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Here's what I was starting with: it's the <a href="http://www.brokenegggames.com/miniaturetrays/tournamenttrays/mdfclassic.html" target="_blank">MDF Large</a> tournament tray from Broken Egg Games.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg40q3t8dGB7ShMavjH1HOi8XlLt3QyuyXEwXZkkZjeSqYeJvB-Bm9iv8gLbjLFlotDgc7yXJTPwLTq33ix39UajhieWkM-NbhRYOZ5E2tlK03Yit3LKmrFLfAxnYrCotm7XAED4C_FWU/s1600/IMG_20160404_152325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg40q3t8dGB7ShMavjH1HOi8XlLt3QyuyXEwXZkkZjeSqYeJvB-Bm9iv8gLbjLFlotDgc7yXJTPwLTq33ix39UajhieWkM-NbhRYOZ5E2tlK03Yit3LKmrFLfAxnYrCotm7XAED4C_FWU/s320/IMG_20160404_152325.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I think I bought the unfinished MDF version because 1.) I'm cheap, and 2.) I originally had grand visions of doing some elaborate custom finish to match one of my armies. As I said, I started to prime it black, but I vaguely remember the primer going on fuzzy, or I ran out, or something else frustrating, and it got tossed on a shelf.</div>
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I gave it a couple more coats of primer - I realized later that the MDF was literally soaking up spray primer as fast as I could put it on. I'd recommend using a brush-on primer, possibly even a latex house paint -type of primer to save some grief. I touched up the finish with some brush-on primer:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE5qsKdsVcCALjX7ERkFjN1FObVH3MB4BMzBYP5g1qHUV4BYt7TpXYYBpbflZ5vcq8_rIM3oDfL8uAPw-KNHJByqtMrqNPydOLLX3YRZEZEb4eVRp-pXyvJr6NblNMWRiayr7CW-33iFk/s1600/IMG_20160405_054432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE5qsKdsVcCALjX7ERkFjN1FObVH3MB4BMzBYP5g1qHUV4BYt7TpXYYBpbflZ5vcq8_rIM3oDfL8uAPw-KNHJByqtMrqNPydOLLX3YRZEZEb4eVRp-pXyvJr6NblNMWRiayr7CW-33iFk/s320/IMG_20160405_054432.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Note the festive tablecloth, compliments of my wife).</span></i></div>
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Part of my original plan was to mask the interior of the cutouts to have a contrasting finish - but, I was not relishing the idea of that much time-consuming work with painter's tape and a hobby knife. I played around with some ideas, like possibly stuffing the holes with poster tack or silly putty, but I'd need a lot of silly putty. I thought of just using bases, but I didn't have that many spare bases in various sizes I'd need, and I'd still have to mask the slots in the bases. But wait: remember those MDF blanks I mentioned I'd bought at Adepticon in my <a href="http://theleadheadblog.blogspot.com/2016/05/adepticon-2016-recap.html" target="_blank">last post</a>?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC6LQJwOkVBMOMbPe1dco7WFZCLZhTnmGt7ppCu3Tcr8NISzx1XP0Nn92b7ycdF-8tzL2laoZBW5MqeAD8H1VJBbmtA8af_LulHjHRFjAWn6MIrtyniTm4xjPm_ZyKoOBnTNDAraDXMhU/s1600/IMG_20160404_152349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC6LQJwOkVBMOMbPe1dco7WFZCLZhTnmGt7ppCu3Tcr8NISzx1XP0Nn92b7ycdF-8tzL2laoZBW5MqeAD8H1VJBbmtA8af_LulHjHRFjAWn6MIrtyniTm4xjPm_ZyKoOBnTNDAraDXMhU/s320/IMG_20160404_152349.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I think I paid $10 for an entire quart-sized take-out container of these. I stuck 'em in the cutouts that I wanted to mask:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0yYaZut3rYlh0vfzAdTH6ny0K5SqncKDOyIqt0jGBcptxQC8JNqwJSVnJIF3v2FLo4Chxm7XkvBfo2OO23U8MR8WU43_SAqTr_WVjVmZ1U67YnGNi1pf35EnSRif4lztc3LlNlBUhYIw/s1600/IMG_20160406_105134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0yYaZut3rYlh0vfzAdTH6ny0K5SqncKDOyIqt0jGBcptxQC8JNqwJSVnJIF3v2FLo4Chxm7XkvBfo2OO23U8MR8WU43_SAqTr_WVjVmZ1U67YnGNi1pf35EnSRif4lztc3LlNlBUhYIw/s320/IMG_20160406_105134.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Next, I grabbed a can of Krylon "Natural Stone" finish paint, which is a very easy way to get a stone-like finish. (Note: they actually make this in a "coarse texture" version, which is what I <i>wanted</i> to use, but they were out of it when I stopped by the craft store):</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm4Ia0X_2XXynjt4gEH5oezV_K_tJKb7E9H6iARF4A6h_L_CrxGnzKi6gj-IaSeiPMfEG3SqUvxTA5xQYLwsHneyuM3DkfpJQmiisCVH3mCHbfnlWd9gplOVyKThRDtrQ5nldr5stRMbQ/s1600/IMG_20160406_105232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm4Ia0X_2XXynjt4gEH5oezV_K_tJKb7E9H6iARF4A6h_L_CrxGnzKi6gj-IaSeiPMfEG3SqUvxTA5xQYLwsHneyuM3DkfpJQmiisCVH3mCHbfnlWd9gplOVyKThRDtrQ5nldr5stRMbQ/s320/IMG_20160406_105232.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Then I gave it a couple of coats:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGNnlpgxYG-wyFwdbCxdUs_WC9yx38cX7TseVVc94ifV-FFwSEpcZ-OzpM8RRHx10YZxZQI3yY0QCpfBUywE8E7q-N7X5Fp8uMkZ6_-Dsjb7NGY5fxY_GgwBcP2J6pkgHp91mDUYBMck/s1600/IMG_20160407_155436.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGNnlpgxYG-wyFwdbCxdUs_WC9yx38cX7TseVVc94ifV-FFwSEpcZ-OzpM8RRHx10YZxZQI3yY0QCpfBUywE8E7q-N7X5Fp8uMkZ6_-Dsjb7NGY5fxY_GgwBcP2J6pkgHp91mDUYBMck/s320/IMG_20160407_155436.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Then I pulled out the MDF blanks:</div>
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Success! There was virtually no bleed over into the black areas!</div>
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Next, I grabbed some black and some white paint and a small brush, and laid down some quick "cracked earth" effects in the flat areas:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSz5rbxrjMVsxjyy5MB10DyYgiFHrHw1uhJd_BeJPEs48N2GZABx_Mb0JvBFBPIAy6mQx8cZTVG9BYSwcWWp2_u_XHmWj2qexWfG_EG0Bp8mNRItQwTH38zsjCmSS9sCtIcjgZ2V4ZEo/s1600/IMG_20160407_180857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSz5rbxrjMVsxjyy5MB10DyYgiFHrHw1uhJd_BeJPEs48N2GZABx_Mb0JvBFBPIAy6mQx8cZTVG9BYSwcWWp2_u_XHmWj2qexWfG_EG0Bp8mNRItQwTH38zsjCmSS9sCtIcjgZ2V4ZEo/s320/IMG_20160407_180857.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Now, I needed some felt for the dice/token storage area on the side. (The guys at Broken Egg included a piece of self-adhesive red felt when I bought the board, but it's long since gone missing). I raided my son's arts & crafts bin and stole a piece of bluish/purple felt:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDijnXXwOiDHjDl7mM9ikaWFn1R7Dr5GRi7_AzEA2ZgJDLOSXgMs2Bq6EiZE_RXJ5GQBDPu0VQecxP4GeOv_7_TwFHPcx5JhbUzIAhBeKWBWaezICM5FMNnMU50-aWgTvb5B6iwF3BGRA/s1600/IMG_20160408_190353.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDijnXXwOiDHjDl7mM9ikaWFn1R7Dr5GRi7_AzEA2ZgJDLOSXgMs2Bq6EiZE_RXJ5GQBDPu0VQecxP4GeOv_7_TwFHPcx5JhbUzIAhBeKWBWaezICM5FMNnMU50-aWgTvb5B6iwF3BGRA/s320/IMG_20160408_190353.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Then I cut it to size:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCpnjuxh8phlM-LG1mY3SjEdDP8rqd8T2xa7mM6DsKAMuAlRP0QYgkmNtrHlmi71ecryybouwgofIBA50lfo0fRTja2umiO3ZNwg0E-cnEMoVugqd8_Ibi8tUXtQppY5RLEmTAkDDQWvw/s1600/IMG_20160408_190614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCpnjuxh8phlM-LG1mY3SjEdDP8rqd8T2xa7mM6DsKAMuAlRP0QYgkmNtrHlmi71ecryybouwgofIBA50lfo0fRTja2umiO3ZNwg0E-cnEMoVugqd8_Ibi8tUXtQppY5RLEmTAkDDQWvw/s320/IMG_20160408_190614.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Next, I raided my wife's scrapbooking supplies and stole her cutter that is used to "round" the corners when cutting paper:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIaIXccvOQ8tHCBRrqBO-ppYcb868dG4q7T5l0B3JcpxUNFyh41pKiM0YHjjLvna0pQ-4VXCIO-TCoo7-xIUNV1QvJVw53eA_Ai1affOS7dnERN91lDiiJ1eq3bxDW3KYwSWBOkohQWoY/s1600/IMG_20160408_190940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIaIXccvOQ8tHCBRrqBO-ppYcb868dG4q7T5l0B3JcpxUNFyh41pKiM0YHjjLvna0pQ-4VXCIO-TCoo7-xIUNV1QvJVw53eA_Ai1affOS7dnERN91lDiiJ1eq3bxDW3KYwSWBOkohQWoY/s320/IMG_20160408_190940.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidAyvMzj-xGN4neS65lr7fngoaN1olx9AzW896my-sswECSXvYG41-NusctQ3UA_Tb0N_-W8ebQs38sMg1-ScoBVJ2r-VSFFzMuzXadFJgZEhsJY9uEZi6X528c6gwHWeCreX26LkTDNY/s1600/IMG_20160408_191056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidAyvMzj-xGN4neS65lr7fngoaN1olx9AzW896my-sswECSXvYG41-NusctQ3UA_Tb0N_-W8ebQs38sMg1-ScoBVJ2r-VSFFzMuzXadFJgZEhsJY9uEZi6X528c6gwHWeCreX26LkTDNY/s320/IMG_20160408_191056.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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...then I glued the piece into place with some spray adhesive:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQ6erLiWgXGJxbtWPOWJ-OcXbsC5_aqAu0_6h3IFFsooLU_7eJl2KN5Qv-h-PoS0ARlXGml8l3z2Gfl8209bHjFoYvnhLxia37WdvRM2zDp-KcABJ-6-cPWQa7yAdQiS9W6_eG1N2ecE/s1600/IMG_20160409_143719.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQ6erLiWgXGJxbtWPOWJ-OcXbsC5_aqAu0_6h3IFFsooLU_7eJl2KN5Qv-h-PoS0ARlXGml8l3z2Gfl8209bHjFoYvnhLxia37WdvRM2zDp-KcABJ-6-cPWQa7yAdQiS9W6_eG1N2ecE/s320/IMG_20160409_143719.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmTozluO8Hraqx8QmoXbmAhZCfcOPD7KZrIbCthZvQ9JNBydTXUpdGhx_YELtpt8RkrZWO_PS61NedcgIgReZBnVpse1wC6uz-WALofV0M7HyHroprhHA6y1fGrewvqMbqJQu3wngfTk/s1600/IMG_20160409_143759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmTozluO8Hraqx8QmoXbmAhZCfcOPD7KZrIbCthZvQ9JNBydTXUpdGhx_YELtpt8RkrZWO_PS61NedcgIgReZBnVpse1wC6uz-WALofV0M7HyHroprhHA6y1fGrewvqMbqJQu3wngfTk/s320/IMG_20160409_143759.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih3DZNrmKB8Zrq5WI1Ytmkr-T_0PFLP70MmvjXqA-w7SL3zN7hcVaYrMbmvbwwW9MsWmCwJiUGxprkX0vLf3jykIj9Vio6IOdcV-DsTp4Epj4RWPGxf6GnTodBAaTtVIrQC0gSPsTkUMQ/s1600/IMG_20160409_144033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih3DZNrmKB8Zrq5WI1Ytmkr-T_0PFLP70MmvjXqA-w7SL3zN7hcVaYrMbmvbwwW9MsWmCwJiUGxprkX0vLf3jykIj9Vio6IOdcV-DsTp4Epj4RWPGxf6GnTodBAaTtVIrQC0gSPsTkUMQ/s320/IMG_20160409_144033.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I also painted up some spare bases to use as blanking pieces:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisYd5uIoATeKpK-xVY8qzPXbdomLgtzKwlCwneZGnOWBhjKcUQgl5UB70BAJtKqfqFp561dDc_Kn321FVDJIFZ86AZjek94zizscS0dB-ZCll_q9kw6TxChD5c8UQpo8q-snSrp72Rh8o/s1600/IMG_20160412_084403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisYd5uIoATeKpK-xVY8qzPXbdomLgtzKwlCwneZGnOWBhjKcUQgl5UB70BAJtKqfqFp561dDc_Kn321FVDJIFZ86AZjek94zizscS0dB-ZCll_q9kw6TxChD5c8UQpo8q-snSrp72Rh8o/s320/IMG_20160412_084403.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(I had a spare 120mm base, since I bought a custom base for my Judicator).</span></i></div>
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...as a final touch, I added some adhesive rubber bumpers I got at the home improvement store as "feet" to prevent sliding:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwfn2E1nXxiAZM97X1qTNF4k-9MhM0zTseXjSWZt06ikbBUgCm67Y_Uwz9FJY_2jyzkBte_aB8WfMObBSxdxhCkhLqma1Cc8YgJjuPoRAeRw7GZiz-yaAk1bKzv0vuiQDPTXxubfg2N4/s1600/IMG_20160409_163031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwfn2E1nXxiAZM97X1qTNF4k-9MhM0zTseXjSWZt06ikbBUgCm67Y_Uwz9FJY_2jyzkBte_aB8WfMObBSxdxhCkhLqma1Cc8YgJjuPoRAeRw7GZiz-yaAk1bKzv0vuiQDPTXxubfg2N4/s320/IMG_20160409_163031.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDe_mhRN8kn7BwzD-qXU40mdDBZ65hJIngvSTY7lg2ul6cr0_7rg_EEyluj6LbOom0zR_Bud-BCnU92QtB2Kj8B47id3-pWsDfodE5D0R4DjtUo1T_SXRxGdnJs4PBTfKpjYO6yMmY2Lg/s1600/IMG_20160409_163326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDe_mhRN8kn7BwzD-qXU40mdDBZ65hJIngvSTY7lg2ul6cr0_7rg_EEyluj6LbOom0zR_Bud-BCnU92QtB2Kj8B47id3-pWsDfodE5D0R4DjtUo1T_SXRxGdnJs4PBTfKpjYO6yMmY2Lg/s320/IMG_20160409_163326.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Note my faithful assistant's hand steadying the project for dad in the above pic).</span></i></div>
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...and there you have it - one (relatively) quick 'n easy tournament board!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyi0Dzuxqq5yfXrx1LRcIC-KpmajDruGaaQzwzSCq2dcdUJKi-vqiG_SphETR8qooCV8Vf8lidaYpWFfeJkSOs58JMtfO5u-nKCHNlJercUB5sfqccimOuP1g5tDHnDK54v1kvHKJz45U/s1600/IMG_20160409_163747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyi0Dzuxqq5yfXrx1LRcIC-KpmajDruGaaQzwzSCq2dcdUJKi-vqiG_SphETR8qooCV8Vf8lidaYpWFfeJkSOs58JMtfO5u-nKCHNlJercUB5sfqccimOuP1g5tDHnDK54v1kvHKJz45U/s320/IMG_20160409_163747.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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BigPaul1ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09209550428128152898noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032085564411071569.post-33968941197369637482016-05-14T14:00:00.001-04:002016-05-14T14:00:53.854-04:00Adepticon 2016 RecapHey all, long time no post, kids work house blah blah blah. Anyways, even though everyone else covered their Adepticon trip a a few weeks ago, I wanted to get my annual post up here.<br />
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This year I headed to Adepticon with <a href="https://twitter.com/funderhammer" target="_blank">Funderhammer</a> & <a href="https://twitter.com/billrobertson42" target="_blank">Bill</a> - I had just formally met Bill a couple of weeks earlier despite seeing him around our FLGS, but Funderhammer assured me that he probably wouldn't axe-murder me in my sleep, so we were good to go. (Just kidding - Bill was a great guy & about as nice a guy as you'd ever meet. For a 9th Age player, anyway)). <br />
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<b><u>Thursday</u></b></h3>
We wanted to get to the hotel ASAP, since they were sending emails offering convention goers a $50 credit if you gave up your room - apparently they massively overbooked the hotel. After a last-minute revision of babysitting/work plans, we got on the road Thursday morning and had a rather uneventful drive. Funderhammer got us upgraded to a suite, and I have to admit I've had worse rooms:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ktSFmptERrZhQAEwvgqjRJQCZB7D6CvI4c_t07xxEQ8Y29VMm4FZ5e6YszPKZpOu_hnsd9j_sCls33EaHS0a7BzeUIxhcl3-yFjSLCJM0yKoMhRrVDPvHph7B_UIXpABGBedtO-OflE/s1600/download_20160514_122315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ktSFmptERrZhQAEwvgqjRJQCZB7D6CvI4c_t07xxEQ8Y29VMm4FZ5e6YszPKZpOu_hnsd9j_sCls33EaHS0a7BzeUIxhcl3-yFjSLCJM0yKoMhRrVDPvHph7B_UIXpABGBedtO-OflE/s320/download_20160514_122315.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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After getting checked in & picking up our badges and swag bags, we headed over to a Chicago institution, <a href="http://www.portillos.com/" target="_blank">Portillo's</a>, for some dinner:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOvMWcBw1AJA9778GnzZt8IOCe8DhNBrrSsfFuYJS-PqXTgX7ZTu1avuCjY_Xx2MiuoUlhytxeTyiekKf3VSlqiqI_00z548zuuCOvBdJ4NIfGzZZBiM9k9q8IsPhNKh5B_TNWoMwCvZc/s1600/FB_IMG_1459471564925.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOvMWcBw1AJA9778GnzZt8IOCe8DhNBrrSsfFuYJS-PqXTgX7ZTu1avuCjY_Xx2MiuoUlhytxeTyiekKf3VSlqiqI_00z548zuuCOvBdJ4NIfGzZZBiM9k9q8IsPhNKh5B_TNWoMwCvZc/s320/FB_IMG_1459471564925.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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When we got back, Funderhammer & I headed to our first class, Army Speed Painting 101 with <a href="http://www.guildpainting.com/" target="_blank">Aaron Lovejoy</a>. I've taken classes with Aaron at GenCon before, but usually they were geared towards competition painting or basing, not speed painting. Aaron actually has a pretty interesting approach - were I'd consider working on a squad and doing stuff like "just paint the pants on each miniature, then just paing the boots, etc" as "speed painting" Aaron gets WAY more granular - like "just paint the front left toe of the boot" then move on to the next model in the squad. Basically, if you're spending more than a few seconds on each "section", then you're not breaking it down far enough. To demonstrate, Aaron assigned everyone in class a TINY fraction of a model, then started shoving identical minis into our "assembly line":<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXIcQEUkfXo7i_8_ODZKk93eC1DJD7NpDAUNyWCx0kgh2R0FDm5QeZcEuqUODGmuWBk4mfyYAt27nw_IQ50uQP3oe974c6I2mMOPd3T_orfEO9sIM5kecOJC3IgHruVjqu_vmBSLja1kM/s1600/IMG_20160331_175516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXIcQEUkfXo7i_8_ODZKk93eC1DJD7NpDAUNyWCx0kgh2R0FDm5QeZcEuqUODGmuWBk4mfyYAt27nw_IQ50uQP3oe974c6I2mMOPd3T_orfEO9sIM5kecOJC3IgHruVjqu_vmBSLja1kM/s320/IMG_20160331_175516.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIbz2EUvGWz0qh-NWOnJkCQlZjTb6yvr-ybQn6rPN8IXPYoNMCsTpE25daEnF-AVPIoVNXP0KgBcvImqDq1jwaGZ6oDOxCW61Cawhprs5J7HfMhT9jvahWRNR4pWB_nbMZ0TxfVLUTORU/s1600/IMG_20160331_180526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIbz2EUvGWz0qh-NWOnJkCQlZjTb6yvr-ybQn6rPN8IXPYoNMCsTpE25daEnF-AVPIoVNXP0KgBcvImqDq1jwaGZ6oDOxCW61Cawhprs5J7HfMhT9jvahWRNR4pWB_nbMZ0TxfVLUTORU/s320/IMG_20160331_180526.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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...the point being, while they weren't going to win any contests, they were definitely of passable "tabletop" quality. Later, due to the copious amounts of coffee I needed to consume to make it through the con, I converted my mini:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAOyWfIb34fJ4PeK94kxbc62ptTJ5Yo1Lrxbo3EVRxS2QuaIweQX-NFRb396aRfrQIlvlnkMSCZWIiUQwJjZQTkVXyhdYxaKof1tVM1oB_RW8zcngWwQAyUhJV97VScsWRfyINZu9k_Lc/s1600/IMG_20160401_152803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAOyWfIb34fJ4PeK94kxbc62ptTJ5Yo1Lrxbo3EVRxS2QuaIweQX-NFRb396aRfrQIlvlnkMSCZWIiUQwJjZQTkVXyhdYxaKof1tVM1oB_RW8zcngWwQAyUhJV97VScsWRfyINZu9k_Lc/s320/IMG_20160401_152803.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<b><u>Friday</u></b></h3>
The next day, we headed to the dealer hall and the shopping began in earnest. One of my first stops was the <a href="http://www.secretweaponminiatures.com/" target="_blank">Secret Weapon Miniatures</a> booth, were I chatted with Justin for a few minutes and picked up some weathering powders & a few of the <a href="http://www.secretweaponminiatures.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=143" target="_blank">new paints</a> to try:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWRMP79-XfbwtN27XCKNivy0B9pHsWg6ca2v4o7AKrhyCZmEUO2L5rnvOoCzw-Hwhrbc3MwZN2i7rzRWC2wZL0l0GeNbOw62T-0lCaxuhrvwdo3vFV-OE7CBdKunEtCeYZiXm3tzPBqNs/s1600/IMG_20160401_122008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWRMP79-XfbwtN27XCKNivy0B9pHsWg6ca2v4o7AKrhyCZmEUO2L5rnvOoCzw-Hwhrbc3MwZN2i7rzRWC2wZL0l0GeNbOw62T-0lCaxuhrvwdo3vFV-OE7CBdKunEtCeYZiXm3tzPBqNs/s320/IMG_20160401_122008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Next I stopped by the <a href="http://ironheartartisans.com/" target="_blank">Ironheart Artisans</a> booth to pick up a custom order that Alex was gracious enough to let me pick up at the con. I also picked up a new set of brushes to try out:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk6AaBjyJHmaTpIR4Yf_jcixjQ4NnlmlkffMqm7vKWjnk7_4MsQ4Kj-rHa3-TaW6Y9SpcQNd9Zwwum_JQN78WIF0wNAaZROkC3syYQ-tgemsvuxx1-ycDDBs7r95hAgNXfxw3sYkwtCsE/s1600/IMG_20160401_122756.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk6AaBjyJHmaTpIR4Yf_jcixjQ4NnlmlkffMqm7vKWjnk7_4MsQ4Kj-rHa3-TaW6Y9SpcQNd9Zwwum_JQN78WIF0wNAaZROkC3syYQ-tgemsvuxx1-ycDDBs7r95hAgNXfxw3sYkwtCsE/s320/IMG_20160401_122756.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I had also been thinking about painting a bust, and he had a pretty cool one on sale:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvkmNWiKzwGiPtsSl5SJ89Vl6BY9j_A_fYkdbf7_z_6m0mjkCN0OFEBv5F-vIxY6JcVWlJZ3o5zP4GIQq_3Ddk_9uiNoXHbpC4ppCHLd1qX5FQogSuuSw96OVsXsur5yAED0bjp1mtnuU/s1600/IMG_20160402_164956.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvkmNWiKzwGiPtsSl5SJ89Vl6BY9j_A_fYkdbf7_z_6m0mjkCN0OFEBv5F-vIxY6JcVWlJZ3o5zP4GIQq_3Ddk_9uiNoXHbpC4ppCHLd1qX5FQogSuuSw96OVsXsur5yAED0bjp1mtnuU/s320/IMG_20160402_164956.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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One of the coupons in our swag bags was a postcard to fill out with your email address that said "Bring this to the <a href="http://privateerpress.com/" target="_blank">Privateer Press</a> booth for a prize!" I was expecting a sticker or a cheap trinket, but they were giving out faction books!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNN5ZX-pOKhJaIEbH80HGw6tb4Iw8T7nq9lCiNgfbPvpat9h7BxoyW2H0Yllo4QHQwXDAqEsDa1I5nP8IwDqqqejRbzOTB7-OAKxKmjLl5ZhZ9se29Ck6p1Oz9RcZgcSq9pNTUeygGYo/s1600/IMG_20160401_123959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNN5ZX-pOKhJaIEbH80HGw6tb4Iw8T7nq9lCiNgfbPvpat9h7BxoyW2H0Yllo4QHQwXDAqEsDa1I5nP8IwDqqqejRbzOTB7-OAKxKmjLl5ZhZ9se29Ck6p1Oz9RcZgcSq9pNTUeygGYo/s320/IMG_20160401_123959.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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(Granted, know we know that they were offloading old stock in preparation for <a href="http://www.allnewwar.com/slide1.html" target="_blank">Mk3</a>, but it was still a nice surprise).</div>
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Next I stopped by the <a href="http://www.flamesofwar.com/Default.aspx?tabid=76" target="_blank">Battlefront</a> booth and picked up a container of MDF blanks (I'll be doing a write-up using these soon):<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiN8DYO4tIAZT_M_6rYkxB_o8Jn2jOtTApVsx9I5G-F0WvwuQRoCSD6GwYRY8jqi1nQSf2hLUNnbDiJSVy_w3fTSpU2peNdVhuQEC5QdVFUefWGAYK8oBlGtBwm-_IZ8yjCdqVqkvOLec/s1600/IMG_20160401_161557.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiN8DYO4tIAZT_M_6rYkxB_o8Jn2jOtTApVsx9I5G-F0WvwuQRoCSD6GwYRY8jqi1nQSf2hLUNnbDiJSVy_w3fTSpU2peNdVhuQEC5QdVFUefWGAYK8oBlGtBwm-_IZ8yjCdqVqkvOLec/s320/IMG_20160401_161557.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Funderhammer was chatting with the guys at the <a href="https://www.coolminiornot.com/" target="_blank">CMON</a> booth, and lamented while he'd like to try Wrath of Kings (VIG's got a starter box in their swag bags), he didn't have anyone to play the game with. They passed along another starter box for me!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZqT6guyThP-6XnDNanAy3FNeLXtXx8Ix1DuMWfBaYjhESqsWiL659Oj0MefRiGg5tNahVi4SuwxJghkBBtaEaeF_Pwt_KIzxFvOEQ9fBpGx5q_wpuohKawLK4gx1Kj5X_r9Vz7xQ6O-E/s1600/IMG_20160401_184750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZqT6guyThP-6XnDNanAy3FNeLXtXx8Ix1DuMWfBaYjhESqsWiL659Oj0MefRiGg5tNahVi4SuwxJghkBBtaEaeF_Pwt_KIzxFvOEQ9fBpGx5q_wpuohKawLK4gx1Kj5X_r9Vz7xQ6O-E/s320/IMG_20160401_184750.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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While trying to identify what the "new hotness" would be at Adepticon this year, it quickly became apparent that it was skirmish game <a href="http://arenarex.com/" target="_blank">Arena Rex</a>. We all bought a starter and will be trying it out more in depth in the not-too-distant future:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKsGgzydJfNAJJV6MA4_cnh24TSOG6p0haUNQ07CkFRvTK7rKPm1-HF3GU-kjEa8pLwZtl6c4nRNbT9KOriitDIpTAb83Zea-x7dHkorcnkSheCrLaA-3V50YxLCh9GgL629duwhjUERA/s1600/IMG_20160402_115952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKsGgzydJfNAJJV6MA4_cnh24TSOG6p0haUNQ07CkFRvTK7rKPm1-HF3GU-kjEa8pLwZtl6c4nRNbT9KOriitDIpTAb83Zea-x7dHkorcnkSheCrLaA-3V50YxLCh9GgL629duwhjUERA/s320/IMG_20160402_115952.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I made so, so many trips to the Reaper booth for paints this year - I don't think this is even <i>close</i> to all of the ones I picked up:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEhDBEo0LGZzSJ9D3Qhg_5JOVrTymve6MQJQkH_Ws-AXaLvOPkNRf_Z1VGNSqWq0SBhcGKmmm6n1gyjs3VZk-U1lf8s6F7FQZe5loLow7629GM8L9-XDUyxI8x_O1L7KLvdICNnecJFOs/s1600/IMG_20160401_121739.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEhDBEo0LGZzSJ9D3Qhg_5JOVrTymve6MQJQkH_Ws-AXaLvOPkNRf_Z1VGNSqWq0SBhcGKmmm6n1gyjs3VZk-U1lf8s6F7FQZe5loLow7629GM8L9-XDUyxI8x_O1L7KLvdICNnecJFOs/s320/IMG_20160401_121739.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUJv3uW7KBu7WPc7Q7KVVv0KU8gHk8zEFAqJBjzbqO7pLMLmFtuPHwpU-4plE-Lp_fMwDrjuYfUGHBPgA3n4SIBw6j17qiXWZ2UmfU_nwi2RqPusQ4zHzwrCshVcPO-yIGR8uTfQvNu1A/s1600/IMG_20160402_120101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUJv3uW7KBu7WPc7Q7KVVv0KU8gHk8zEFAqJBjzbqO7pLMLmFtuPHwpU-4plE-Lp_fMwDrjuYfUGHBPgA3n4SIBw6j17qiXWZ2UmfU_nwi2RqPusQ4zHzwrCshVcPO-yIGR8uTfQvNu1A/s320/IMG_20160402_120101.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Found a guy tucked away in the corner of the concourse selling homemade chapter banners & purity seals - while I haven't thought about Space Marines in a loooong time, these were too cool to pass up:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMEgiSjiBEJ2M5WrsOzrZHXSwApw5cEztZex3Hl18gxIDmP9avJxKq15hXlFMEImDf1DzCKQHWrVPnrf1B1g2AryKpayra1THPr5PWS-zpUQ-RtUp36EZi_lIeRzAMlcg27BHYcBHN-l8/s1600/IMG_20160402_164908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMEgiSjiBEJ2M5WrsOzrZHXSwApw5cEztZex3Hl18gxIDmP9avJxKq15hXlFMEImDf1DzCKQHWrVPnrf1B1g2AryKpayra1THPr5PWS-zpUQ-RtUp36EZi_lIeRzAMlcg27BHYcBHN-l8/s320/IMG_20160402_164908.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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That night, Funderhammer & I had a couple of classes, the first of which was Painting Smoother Blends with <a href="http://cmonexpo.com/guest-spotlight-rhonda-bender/" target="_blank">Rhonda Bender</a>. This was one of those types of classes that I take every year, swear that I'm going to incorporate it into my painting, then get home and remember that I'm lazy. But no, it was great info and Rhonda really broke it down into easily understandable steps, and I was fairly pleased with my results.<br />
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From here, we went to our next class, Painting Realistic Faces with <a href="http://powellminipainting.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">David Powell</a>. David had some amazing examples of his work on hand:<br />
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Despite being hampered by several, um, "beverages" I made before we left the room, I was pretty pleased with my progress:<br />
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<b><u>Saturday</u></b></h3>
The next day, my first class was Basic Technique in Finishing, Including Airbrush Technique with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Twisted-Brush-Studios-541106512589810/" target="_blank">Caleb Wissenback</a>. I really haven;t kept up with my airbrushing, and have resolved to do better in the coming year. Caleb had a lot of good advice & tips.<br />
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My next class was Airbrush 102, Airbrush Cleaning & Maintenance with Ken Schlotfeldt, the president of <a href="http://www.badgerairbrush.com/" target="_blank">Badger Airbrush</a>. I was pleased to learn that I was doing everything (mostly) correct, and afterwards I picked up one of these cool airbrush maintenance kits from the Badger booth:<br />
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After my classes were over for the day, Funderhammer, Bill & I headed to the Privateer Press Iron Arena to get some games in:</div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Oooh, swanky new focus tokens!</span></i></div>
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After we were done, we realized it was our last night in town to get a "fancy" dinner, so we headed over to the Weber Grill restaurant. When we got back to the room, Bill broke out a copy of <a href="http://www.atlas-games.com/gloom/" target="_blank">Gloom</a>, which was a lot of fun:</div>
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<b><u>Sunday</u></b></h3>
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Sunday we packed up the car and made a few trips around the convention center, where we bumped into Robe Guy:</div>
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...and while waiting for the raffle drawing, we checked out the Crystal Brush entries:</div>
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After the drawing (none of us won anything), we headed out, another Adepticon in the bag!</div>
BigPaul1ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09209550428128152898noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032085564411071569.post-15994651482319161022016-01-09T13:24:00.002-05:002016-01-09T13:24:39.269-05:00Thoughts on Catan, Asmodee, Fantasy Flight & OriginsHey all. Sorry for the lack of bloginess lately, raising a kid and all that. At any rate, I saw a few articles in the past month and had some thoughts I wanted to get down.<br />
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While most of you came here for painting/terrain making tutorials, you know I occasionally feature a board game review. In reality, for a long, long time, board games were a much bigger part of my gaming than anything else. In fact, while I was dating my future wife, she introduced me to <a href="https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/13/catan" target="_blank">The Settlers of Catan</a>. Most of you, even if you don't particularly care for board games, have probably heard of it. It was the game responsible for introducing most people to the concept of "<a href="http://boardgamegeek.com/wiki/page/Eurogame" target="_blank">Eurogames</a>", games that are very different than the type we grew up with (Monopoly, Scrabble, etc). Although it's been a couple of years since I've played a game of Catan or any of it's variants, it still has a special place in my heart.<br />
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It's also no secret that <a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/more-millenials-unplug-to-embrace-board-games/1894269.html" target="_blank">boardgames have exploded in popularity in the past several years, especially among millennials</a>. This trend is so prevalent that my city has had several new stores open that deal almost exclusively in board games, and even supports a dedicated<a href="http://kingmakerscolumbus.com/" target="_blank"> board game parlour</a>. The popularity of Catan means you can even buy <a href="http://www.tableofcatan.com/" target="_blank">gaming tables that are made<b> just</b> for playing Catan</a>. A few years ago, there was a glut of articles talking about how <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB126092289275692825" target="_blank">Silicon Valley had been overtaken by Catan-mania</a>.<br />
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So imagine my surprise when I read that <a href="http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/165778-Asmodee-Acquires-Catans-English-Rights-From-Mayfair-Games" target="_blank">Asmodee had acquired the rights for Catan from Mayfair Games</a>.<br />
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See, board games are handled similarly to books - the publishing rights can be bought or sold (and in fact are all the time). And the rights are usually separate for each language/country.<br />
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But the English-language rights for Catan are arguably the most valuable cash cow in the entire gaming industry. This is the board game industry equivalent of J.K. Rowling selling the rights to all the Harry Potter books, or <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2012/10/30/disney-star-wars-lucasfilm/1669739/" target="_blank">George Lucas selling off Star Wars</a>.<br />
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The rights were bought by <a href="http://us.asmodee.com/" target="_blank">Asmodee</a>, a french company that also <a href="https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/news/2014/11/17/fantasy-flight-games-to-merge-into-the-asmodee-group-tm/" target="_blank">recently merged with one of my favorite publishers, Fantasy Flight</a>, and just a couple of months before that, <a href="http://oregonbeast.kinja.com/what-does-days-of-wonders-sale-to-asmodee-mean-for-boar-1626685730" target="_blank">bought another of my favorite publishers, Days of Wonder</a>.<br />
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While this undoubtedly makes Asmodee the new 800-pound-gorilla of the board game industry, what does it mean? Is it a good deal? Will Mayfair survive?<br />
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I don't know.<br />
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It's impossible to say without knowing what Asmodee paid for the rights to Catan, and even then, I probably don't know enough to speak with any authority on the subject. <br />
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A lot of those articles about the "board game craze" are five or six years old at this point. One point of view is that Mayfair made a fortune, and was smart to get out before the bubble popped. The other side could say that Catan is a cash cow that hasn't even begun to be milked, and Asmodee made a smart buy. Like I said, without in-depth info about the financials, it's all speculation.<br />
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One of my main concerns is a bit more personal - Mayfair Games was the premiere sponsor of my favorite annual convention, <a href="http://originsgamefair.com/" target="_blank">Origins Game Fair</a>. Will Mayfair still take this role at Origins? And will the fans respond to them if they don't have Catan in their portfolio anymore? <a href="http://www.tabletopgamingnews.com/asmodee-acquires-catan-from-mayfair-games/" target="_blank">This</a> article says:<br />
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Catan Studios, Inc. is the name being given to the team that is part of Asmodee. Mayfair isn’t just cutting all ties, though, as they will still help with the coordination of all official events listed for <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;">Catan </em>this year, as well as <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;">Catan</em>Day, and the <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;">Catan </em>World Championship.</div>
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This change is part of a management change happening at Mayfair. Such changes include Larry Roznai becoming both President (which he already was) and CEO (formerly held by Pete Fenlon). Alex Yeager will now be the VP of Acquisition & Development, which had been done by S. Coleman Charlton. Various other VP and Director positions have new people in charge of them as well.</div>
A lot of Mayfair's involvement with Origins will probably hinge on Larry Roznai - he's kind of a fixture at Origins. I have to admit I've talked with him, attended seminars led by him, and always found him to be a pleasant guy. But, apparently he's been at odds with Origins: a couple of years ago a well-liked member of the GAMA (the company that puts on Origins every year) staff was let go, and he shared a lot of info on Facebook:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6c7tVZaYGsEQDeglc0KCmLipIg5g3ChyphenhyphenLGMLMmbEvVydk7cgjmfm5gA8pGp1CvBFYImGUAE8gWFKTCwcK7YGxtmkykMTQ3QOpUOuVagLP36Livp-LFxMIMNmXwPIg5yPuilnDtjW_asE/s1600/Facebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6c7tVZaYGsEQDeglc0KCmLipIg5g3ChyphenhyphenLGMLMmbEvVydk7cgjmfm5gA8pGp1CvBFYImGUAE8gWFKTCwcK7YGxtmkykMTQ3QOpUOuVagLP36Livp-LFxMIMNmXwPIg5yPuilnDtjW_asE/s320/Facebook.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Names and pics obscured to protect the innocent, blah blah blah). </span></i> </div>
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I'd hate to see Origins move from Columbus, as it's local to me - it's my annual vacation, and I do the bulk of my gaming purchases every year there and at Adepticon. It's an interesting idea presented by the former employee that Mayfair pulling out of Origins would be a non-issue - I'm not so sure that's true, simply because I don't know who would pick up the slack. Fantasy Flight hasn't attended Origins in several years. Rio Grande had a good showing 4 or 5 years ago, but seems to have scaled back their presence in favor of GenCon. Queen Games has stepped up quite a bit in the past couple of years, but I don't think they have the titles or fan following to be the "major" sponsor. Looney Labs used to be a major sponsor several years ago but stopped attending due to scheduling issues (and other unspoken but implied reasons). </div>
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Another interesting piece of the puzzle was a recent Asmodee's announcement:<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #40454b; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px;"><i>The marketplace has long been distorted by providing one-size-fits-all sales terms to every retail account, regardless of its channel of sale. The growth in demand for games over the last decade, in our view, has been fueled not only by fantastic product, but by the support of specialty retailers who incubate personal connections between players, facilitate tournaments and leagues, provide instant product availability, and increasingly provide a “third place” that is instrumental for so many gamers to enjoy and discover our products. The retailer cost of providing such channel services is significant, and so we’re now making policy changes to ensure that the sales terms provided to those retailers, relative to other channels, are positively reflective of the value they add to our distribution chain. - See more at: http://www.purplepawn.com/2015/12/asmodee-consolidating-operations-in-north-america/#sthash.6SA54g71.dpuf</i></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">What does the above marketing-speak mean? Short short answer: no more cheap online sales of games. While I'm more willing than a lot of people to spend a little bit more to support my local retailer or vendor at a convention, it's nice to have the option to get stuff online. What this means as far as going up against Amazon will be an interesting scenario as well.</span></div>
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BigPaul1ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09209550428128152898noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032085564411071569.post-49998249581640531232015-07-15T18:30:00.000-04:002015-07-15T18:30:01.774-04:00Building With Hirst Arts Blocks As I mentioned <a href="http://theleadheadblog.blogspot.com/2015/06/origins-game-fair-pt-i.html" target="_blank">in a previous post</a>, one of the classes I took at <a href="http://originsgamefair.com/" target="_blank">Origins 2015</a> was building with <a href="http://hirstarts.com/" target="_blank">Hirst Arts</a> blocks. I've played with them a bit before, but I've never really detailed the process on the blog.<br />
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The instructor had a half-dozen or so pre-cast & bagged sets to choose from - I chose a set made from the <a href="http://hirstarts.com/molds/moldscav.html" target="_blank">cavern molds</a>, as I thought it'd be the most versatile to have in my collection (as opposed to a set that was strictly sci-fi or fantasy -themed). Here's some pics of the instructor's assembled version:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2jKe7KHQeXMY_lczQ4523sas8RrZQ9aTXmM5-_OY_-GgNKzPy06RwwoC_oQ1nn0Yn8OZln8XLRtuefGFZn9VcilNA1abZrV1rYtqeGeYMaHbm22aRk9jCZRfyfg5TtJgtR_udZ3l9M1U/s1600/IMG_20150606_143754468_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2jKe7KHQeXMY_lczQ4523sas8RrZQ9aTXmM5-_OY_-GgNKzPy06RwwoC_oQ1nn0Yn8OZln8XLRtuefGFZn9VcilNA1abZrV1rYtqeGeYMaHbm22aRk9jCZRfyfg5TtJgtR_udZ3l9M1U/s320/IMG_20150606_143754468_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE78gBdeSrdo8OMAljYjjzZ1tLtuDE6SN0HrU2WQIzh7rXa-3V8TLCbNapKNdJAsIOEcgIsq6OIfHE6IwGwQewpK61VqsdKE7DSnBTgfjF-BmuFA0dfG0Lg8N8hgpw2N8YNkgxd3jd7Ms/s1600/IMG_20150606_143813611_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE78gBdeSrdo8OMAljYjjzZ1tLtuDE6SN0HrU2WQIzh7rXa-3V8TLCbNapKNdJAsIOEcgIsq6OIfHE6IwGwQewpK61VqsdKE7DSnBTgfjF-BmuFA0dfG0Lg8N8hgpw2N8YNkgxd3jd7Ms/s320/IMG_20150606_143813611_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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We were given a bag of pieces and a bottle of glue, and basically told to go to town while the instructor lectured on general tips & ideas. For some of the Hirst Arts molds, the pieces are very interchangeable and it's pretty much like building with LEGOs - there are a million different ways they can go together. The cavern molds<b> are not </b>one those types of sets - the instructor specifically indicated "there's pretty much only one way that set can go together". It was a bit frustrating at first without a schematic or anything, but eventually I sussed it out - here's the pieces I was able to get together during the class:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhhU2YyxVGgBuZDobEjU21PSxfdByZiDr7IN-8V45_FK0o6RdHxtydmATk161F3whNZmSDtStZ1gbX1KRMf-a2ZvQY_m6j6nhMjdf-7e86WdQcIMfaFCwbz8wSBPQMWctnEE3lYscT4C4/s1600/IMG_20150606_143616679.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhhU2YyxVGgBuZDobEjU21PSxfdByZiDr7IN-8V45_FK0o6RdHxtydmATk161F3whNZmSDtStZ1gbX1KRMf-a2ZvQY_m6j6nhMjdf-7e86WdQcIMfaFCwbz8wSBPQMWctnEE3lYscT4C4/s320/IMG_20150606_143616679.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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To finish the assembly, I was going to need a solid base. I packed up the pieces carefully, and when I got home I grabbed a piece of foamcore board:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-BeR5AaDoIh0qHgTgw3gaF4IX2_zcP_ssPA6QIxjK79j-jAzHveFaMx1r0t7Tjm5Aau3Nmoopb9G6qiRsNk3152Y4UNHAfpanAKlCQs4_zDHi1oPeap8frYpE9v47GDsXeaGuESB_c8/s1600/IMG_20150613_105006698.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-BeR5AaDoIh0qHgTgw3gaF4IX2_zcP_ssPA6QIxjK79j-jAzHveFaMx1r0t7Tjm5Aau3Nmoopb9G6qiRsNk3152Y4UNHAfpanAKlCQs4_zDHi1oPeap8frYpE9v47GDsXeaGuESB_c8/s320/IMG_20150613_105006698.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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Then I laid out what I had:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqig_m-9hLKyA7M5o6ecEBawwV5T5XzLxN4afywK7S-FkyoyyKnKo8wDF_ZnaIBi9NGjRgkSbKdMN4Kgi0bgsx-rh73scD59P5uDruoVoLLFEjCTZ3T_EKO7VS4HANBO_GOyeVsN-aVaw/s1600/IMG_20150613_105058833.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqig_m-9hLKyA7M5o6ecEBawwV5T5XzLxN4afywK7S-FkyoyyKnKo8wDF_ZnaIBi9NGjRgkSbKdMN4Kgi0bgsx-rh73scD59P5uDruoVoLLFEjCTZ3T_EKO7VS4HANBO_GOyeVsN-aVaw/s320/IMG_20150613_105058833.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Then I started duplicating the layout based on the pictures I took in class:<br />
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After I was confident I had the layout right, I started gluing everything down:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid2W7n1c4DGtKU0Cfie2VQ-Noe5oYzif7FNvhPsqE4LM_b9G7Igcm2teJdJpscbzVXFbLeCe2kXY6BJwj1z0lxQMyA-k34pJn8ex1LHkCZf7cPOvUTJJMz_jGTq_Qd8ke5R3W1j2CIQmo/s1600/IMG_20150613_111505353.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid2W7n1c4DGtKU0Cfie2VQ-Noe5oYzif7FNvhPsqE4LM_b9G7Igcm2teJdJpscbzVXFbLeCe2kXY6BJwj1z0lxQMyA-k34pJn8ex1LHkCZf7cPOvUTJJMz_jGTq_Qd8ke5R3W1j2CIQmo/s320/IMG_20150613_111505353.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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The glue that seems to get recommended the most by folks who build with Hirst Arts blocks is <a href="http://www.joann.com/aleene-s-original-tacky-glue-4-oz/2018091.html" target="_blank">Aleene's Tacky Glue</a>, but wood glue or regular PVA ("school glue") will also work. Note: be <b>generous</b> with the glue - these blocks are cast from Hydrocal (lightweight gypsum cement) - they absorb <i>a lot</i> of moisture out of the glue. When I initially assembled a lot of the pieces I thought I was using plenty of glue, but when I picked up the pieces a half-hour later most of them snapped apart. <br />
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After gluing everything down well and letting it dry overnight, I used a utility knife to trim off the excess foamboard:<br />
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(I left the door piece separate, so it can be removed if needed during a game).<br />
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Next, I coated the edges of the pieces with glue and sprinkled them with kitty litter:<br />
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I did the same to cover any obvious gaps on the interior of the set, too:<br />
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After the litter had dried, I mixed some glue 50/50 with water and dripped it on the kitty litter, to really "lock in" the gravel.<br />
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...and that's it - coming soon, we'll paint it up!<br />
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<br />BigPaul1ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09209550428128152898noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032085564411071569.post-14924612962568306652015-07-08T18:30:00.000-04:002015-07-08T18:30:00.283-04:00Jude's Origins 2015 Video Report<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pd4ZLZOWvfY" width="560"></iframe>BigPaul1ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09209550428128152898noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032085564411071569.post-65794577820305121432015-06-25T18:30:00.000-04:002015-06-25T18:30:00.384-04:00Origins Game Fair, Part II<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigomgoFHufc0MdKOHQ_wHPwDBI9AluFY9wBd2AuoDlVeHHi5lR8wcGcM_qDzh7lpMqlWei-sB3nAcglDvJq5dwiEsVya9VlnSxpRg6ZsjZU4Wm20ZbMhrugD96VWigYIiNx_392lamVP0/s1600/OriginsLogo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigomgoFHufc0MdKOHQ_wHPwDBI9AluFY9wBd2AuoDlVeHHi5lR8wcGcM_qDzh7lpMqlWei-sB3nAcglDvJq5dwiEsVya9VlnSxpRg6ZsjZU4Wm20ZbMhrugD96VWigYIiNx_392lamVP0/s320/OriginsLogo.png" width="320" /></a></div>
The next morning, we made our way to the board room and started with an old favorite, <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/36218/dominion" target="_blank">Dominion</a>:<br />
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It had been a while since I'd played, but it didn't take long to get back into the swing of things. I'd forgotten how groundbreaking <i>Dominion</i> was when it came out, and how many games have copied it's mechanics since then. <br />
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After that, we went back to one of favorites from previous years, <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/33154/wasabi" target="_blank">Wasabi!</a>:<br />
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<br />
my only complaint about this game is that's it's been out of print for a while - I want a copy for my library!<br />
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Enough already: Shopping time!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7VhC0EoyiszLY7l2wZdT3SBb_iuiHYmjw-wBm01jzfjjNzXbs0J1aclksqD7u6BMPM5W9iZEnYxgBnS7QJekrpx4z6J8DhgUPcaKJf1pj5bkr7FI1ny3x2AoMPtjDqRBbaEl3vjAikOk/s1600/IMG_20150605_174431090.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7VhC0EoyiszLY7l2wZdT3SBb_iuiHYmjw-wBm01jzfjjNzXbs0J1aclksqD7u6BMPM5W9iZEnYxgBnS7QJekrpx4z6J8DhgUPcaKJf1pj5bkr7FI1ny3x2AoMPtjDqRBbaEl3vjAikOk/s320/IMG_20150605_174431090.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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I picked up <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/10383/risk-godstorm" target="_blank">Risk: Godstorm</a> because it's been on my shopping list forever, and I still loves me some Risk. Plus lots of miniatures!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQwQrOa2RyxLpbAZEtsqjrak3uyeKY540gvo2yQh_2e8Y9rKJtFDZLcVcN1g9IC0bvsDTRUB3cOkkFnamV4IGZLpEoHrgySrG66ficEgoKDZXJWNjY92m4M8x87z53rGK-dTIkR7eC4mY/s1600/IMG_20150605_174448492.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQwQrOa2RyxLpbAZEtsqjrak3uyeKY540gvo2yQh_2e8Y9rKJtFDZLcVcN1g9IC0bvsDTRUB3cOkkFnamV4IGZLpEoHrgySrG66ficEgoKDZXJWNjY92m4M8x87z53rGK-dTIkR7eC4mY/s320/IMG_20150605_174448492.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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I also picked up <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/163412/patchwork" target="_blank">Patchwork</a> from the <a href="http://www.mayfairgames.com/" target="_blank">Mayfair Games</a> booth - it was recommended to me by the guys at my FLGS, but they didn't have any in stock at the time. It's two players (great for the wife & I) and I'm betting she'll like the theme. </div>
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I neglected to take a picture, but I also picked up <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/25669/qwirkle" target="_blank">Qwirkle</a> - another recommendation from the guys at the FLGS.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigaUcTvbTCi5CY0u62QYmR1PbBQQn2rzbcdIR13PHQjGuxv8OXiWT3QHwoFIUc0KzRikhIYXXlncsk9J2swCA27gTvaRuh-PA0WI3QmQ8AKCMhLkf0B2uiCmg1M6KgUWV6yuIuvppQFZM/s1600/pandemiccure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigaUcTvbTCi5CY0u62QYmR1PbBQQn2rzbcdIR13PHQjGuxv8OXiWT3QHwoFIUc0KzRikhIYXXlncsk9J2swCA27gTvaRuh-PA0WI3QmQ8AKCMhLkf0B2uiCmg1M6KgUWV6yuIuvppQFZM/s320/pandemiccure.jpg" width="236" /></a></div>
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I also grabbed the most recent <i>Pandemic</i> expansion, <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/150658/pandemic-cure" target="_blank">The Cure</a>. Granted, I haven't played the last two <i>Pandemic</i> expansions I bought, but... hey, who asked you, anyway?<br />
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...and no convention shopping trip would be complete without buying some fresh dice - both for me:<br />
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...and for the boy:<br />
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He already rolls better than his old man:<br />
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<br />BigPaul1ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09209550428128152898noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032085564411071569.post-32681462070061276472015-06-23T18:30:00.000-04:002015-06-23T18:30:00.588-04:00Origins Game Fair Pt. I<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A couple weeks ago the wife and I attended one of our favorite events of the year, <a href="http://originsgamefair.com/" target="_blank">Origins Game Fair</a>! This was our first year attending since the kiddo was born, which was a new experience to say the least. While all our plans were tentative at best, we still managed to have a lot of fun.<br />
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We started out by picking up our badges - Origins moved to new system this year, where you printed out your confirmation email and scanned it at a kiosk, which then printed your badge & event tickets. There was much raging on the Intarwebz about this new system, but for us (and pretty much everyone else I talked to in person) it worked fine. The only glitch was that the locations of the events didn't print on your tickets, but taking five minutes to leaf through the event catalog and jotting the locations down on my tickets solved that problem.<br />
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We made our way to the Board Room, which is our group's usual base of operations during Origins - for a flat $20 fee, you can enter the Board Room anytime and check out any of the <a href="http://www.buckeyeboardgamers.org/" target="_blank">Columbus Area Boardgaming Society's</a> 800+ games. Since playing in an ticketed board game usually costs $2 - $4, it's really a great value. The other motivation is that there's enough tables that our group usually just sets up camp there on Thursday, and comes and goes as needed - there's always a couple people hanging around to watch everyone's stuff, get a quick game in, or just sit and relax for a bit. <br />
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While waiting to check out a game, a couple members of our group struck up a conversation with another attendee who offered to teach them a game - it turned out to be <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/9386/icetowers" target="_blank">IceTowers</a>, a game that uses <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/wiki/page/Icehouse_Pieces#" target="_blank">Icehouse pieces</a> from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LooneyLabs" target="_blank">Looney Labs</a>:<br />
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(Icehouse pieces are abstract game pieces that can be used to play dozens of different games - there's even an <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/13454/playing-pyramids" target="_blank">entire book</a> to give you ideas). This game was a lot of fun, and I chatted with our new friend about Looney Labs in general - the wife & I used to spend a great deal of our time at Origins in Looney Labs "Big Experiment" (a room dedicated to nothing but Looney Labs' games), but apparently the company had some sort of falling out with Origins several years ago, and no longer maintains an official presence at the con. Bummer.<br />
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After playing for a while, I decided to wander around and see what the convention center setup was like this year. One of my first stops was the official convention merchandise booth - every year, I'm tempted to buy a hoodie and a messenger bag or backpack, but I never talk myself into, or if I do, they're sold out by the time I go to get it. This year I resolved to budget for them ahead of time, and to pick them up ASAP. I found the booth and asked - no bags this year, and no sweatshirts in my size. Sad panda. <br />
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I wandered through the vendor hall and came across the <a href="http://www.offworlddesigns.com/" target="_blank">Offworld Designs</a> booth, who had done the official show merch in the past (although I believe Origins now does everything in house). I talked with the employees there and after rummaging around for a bit they found one of the bags I wanted! Hooray!<br />
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After heading back to the Board Room, I ran into some friends - one of them had purchased <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/131835/boss-monster-dungeon-building-card-game" target="_blank">Boss Monster</a> earlier that day, so we gave it a playthrough:<br />
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This was a fun game with a unique take: instead of being a hero and trying to get loot, you're an end boss of a video game level, and you're building a level to attract certain heroes to their doom. The art is all very inspired by 8-bit Nintendo games (the box even looks like a cartridge, and the expansions are packaged in boxes that look like Game Boy cartridges). Overall a fun, light game, even though I died in the second round.<br />
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I headed back over to our group's base camp and found them playing <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/157789/pandemic-contagion" target="_blank">Pandemic: Contagion</a>:<br />
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This is a version of the popular Pandemic family of games that uses a dice-based mechanic. I watched them play for a while, and it looked like fun - it seemed similar in feel to the other <i>Pandemic</i> games.<br />
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Day II<br />
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The next day, I had a RPG bright & early - <a href="http://www.fearlightgames.com/bakerstreet.html" target="_blank">Baker Street</a> by Fearlight Games:<br />
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<i>Baker Street</i>, as you might have guessed, it role-playing set in the world of Sherlock Holmes. Our GM was Bryce Whitacre, who is actually the author of the game (and also GM'ed <a href="http://theleadheadblog.blogspot.com/2014/06/origins-2014-recap-part-ii.html" target="_blank">our amazing Masters of the Universe game last year</a>). This was a nice change of pace from your standard fantasy or sci-fi RPG - all the material is officially licensed from the Conan Doyle estate, and Bryce obviously has a lot of love for the material (as evidenced by the fact that he GM'ed the game while wearing a houndstooth overcoat, deerstalker cap, and carrying a pipe). The book looked great and our group was a lot of fun. I wasn't crazy about the mechanics, but it was a nice change of pace. <br />
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I headed back to the Board Room and was looking to grab a quick game before my next event - someone in our group grabbed <a href="http://www.dicehatemegames.com/games/diner/" target="_blank">Diner</a> by <a href="http://www.dicehatemegames.com/" target="_blank">Dice Hate Me Games</a> from the library:<br />
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While reading the instructions for the game, it mentioned that the game doesn't have turns. <i>No turns?</i> to say I was skeptical was an understatement. Turns out, this was a surprise hit. It's one of those "hard-to-explain, easy-to-play" -type games, and our group had a lot of fun with it. It would be easy to grasp for slightly older kids, but still fun for adults, and only takes ten or fifteen minutes to play - for ten bucks, I'd highly recommend it. <br />
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My next event was Building With Hirst Art Blocks - I had taken a similar class before at GenCon, but I think it was $20 - this one was only $2, so I decided to give it a shot. I figured it'd be a lecture about <a href="http://hirstarts.com/" target="_blank">Hirst Arts</a> blocks, then maybe you'd get to build a tiny accent piece of terrain or a deployment marker or something. Turns out, it was building full size kits - there was some kind of mix up with Origins, and the only option they gave the instructor was to offer the class for the price printed in the catalog, or to cancel all the classes. He decided to offer the class, but mentioned that donations of generic tokens would be gladly accepted. <br />
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We were offered our choice of several pre-sorted kits - I went with a <a href="http://hirstarts.com/molds/moldscav.html" target="_blank">cavern with pillars</a>:<br />
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(Here's the instructor's completed set as an example):<br />
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This class was really great, and the instructor offered a lot of tips while we worked. Needless to say, after class I ran downstairs and bought a handful of generic tokens to throw in his tip jar.<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Next: Part 2!</span></i>BigPaul1ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09209550428128152898noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032085564411071569.post-26328824560114721202015-06-03T22:16:00.000-04:002015-06-03T22:16:23.628-04:00Origins 2015!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's time for our hometown convention, <a href="http://originsgamefair.com/" target="_blank">Origins Game Fair</a>! Watch <a href="https://twitter.com/TheLeadHead" target="_blank">my Twitter feed</a> for up-to-the-minute updates, and I'll be back with a full report next week!BigPaul1ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09209550428128152898noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032085564411071569.post-40943488257470570412015-05-19T19:30:00.000-04:002015-05-19T19:30:01.325-04:00Beyond The BoardIt's no secret that boardgames have <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/nov/25/board-games-internet-playstation-xbox" target="_blank">experienced a bit of a Renaissance</a> in the past few years - my city now has a <a href="http://kingmakerscolumbus.com/" target="_blank">dedicated board game parlor</a>, as well as <a href="http://www.buckeyeboardgamers.org/home" target="_blank">a boardgaming club</a> that is attended by hundred of players every other weekend. This has resulted in a few new shops opening around town, too - for my birthday a couple of awesome friends gave me a gift certificate to one of the newer shops, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BeyondTheBoardLLC" target="_blank">Beyond The Board</a>, so I decided to check it out:<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Yay! Money that <b>must</b> be spent on games!</span></i></div>
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The shop is tucked into the corner of a shopping center off of W. Bridge St. in Dublin, OH:<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Unfortunately, there was no good way to get a decent picture of the store - either it was blocked by the trees, or I was under the overhang</span></i></div>
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Walking in, the shop seems nice, if a bit... <i>unfilled</i>, I guess? <br />
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It just feels like a much bigger space than necessary. (Although I've never been there during a CCG tournament or event - the extra space might be nice to have on those nights).<br />
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I was mildly surprised to see that they had a corner of the store dedicated to Games Workshop & Privateer Press minis & products, but make no mistake - their main focus was definitely board games.<br />
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They also have a nice selection of games in their "library" for customers to try out:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQJ1UNU3WyD1j0cmJT3Dz3hRqCa59CH3JXUA_3d67D8vCUNdbW5ED22AHi2RVdqqrGJt6cORIq4eTIc83emacNkY5GvjMxr3YZvsXuvjDXtdussj5dsWBMdxHQXqlyC8fKakiQlIdaCeI/s1600/IMG_20150422_142625761_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQJ1UNU3WyD1j0cmJT3Dz3hRqCa59CH3JXUA_3d67D8vCUNdbW5ED22AHi2RVdqqrGJt6cORIq4eTIc83emacNkY5GvjMxr3YZvsXuvjDXtdussj5dsWBMdxHQXqlyC8fKakiQlIdaCeI/s1600/IMG_20150422_142625761_HDR.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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At this point, I decided to pick out a game - while there is lots of stuff on my wishlist, in particular I was looking for something that 1.) would play well with just my wife & I, as well as with friends, 2.) was fairly "light", 3.) didn't have a theme that would instantly turn my wife off (just about all sci-fi themes & many fantasy ones are right out), and 4.) wasn't too expensive (say goodbye, Fantasy Flight coffin-box games).<br />
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This is were Beyond The Board stood out - I told the lone employee working that day, Chris, what I was looking for, and he proceeded to walk the aisles with me, point out any possibilities, and give me a brief overview of the play style & mechanics of each game. After me telling him my personal pros & cons of some of his picks, we were able to narrow it down to four or five solid possibilities. In the end I narrowed it down to <a href="http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/70323/king-tokyo" target="_blank">King of Tokyo</a>, <a href="http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/25669/qwirkle" target="_blank">Qwirkle</a>, and <a href="http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/156976/planes" target="_blank">Planes</a> - I decided to go with Planes (although I'll probably go back and pick up Qwirkle sometime):<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE2SQ92ZyAlQc_1sP_zNnxe5pRa-ouC5h9Cm8NPZfXNS2s3PjlC6wW6JxVfqUCfVr2xvozhDT8f5vjsVF1ti03uQbmAE2dywV8HXoP3Am7vIvd9Y32oMmT4GoCPTGcXoKHSyhgrOAT_MM/s1600/pic2020706_md.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE2SQ92ZyAlQc_1sP_zNnxe5pRa-ouC5h9Cm8NPZfXNS2s3PjlC6wW6JxVfqUCfVr2xvozhDT8f5vjsVF1ti03uQbmAE2dywV8HXoP3Am7vIvd9Y32oMmT4GoCPTGcXoKHSyhgrOAT_MM/s1600/pic2020706_md.jpg" height="319" width="320" /></a></div>
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I also picked up a copy of <a href="http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/160964/star-wars-empire-vs-rebellion" target="_blank">Star Wars: Empire vs. Rebellion</a> for a friends' birthday (this was a 2-player card game that Chris highly recommended - I kinda wanted a copy for myself, but the theme is a hard sell for the missus):<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvVkgG9XaBMhsZ8DQ6oqehhdjWpV3HLutkgPeDsE4I3g6VolDKE4u7L6A-bjHXNQ0aCd-AgvOg8EBlqwHPldphvucWNIHtKwfQIrsF33UEzAqN8pBNFklJvjguzB_w0gVgld-OVqgPYA8/s1600/pic2078334_md.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvVkgG9XaBMhsZ8DQ6oqehhdjWpV3HLutkgPeDsE4I3g6VolDKE4u7L6A-bjHXNQ0aCd-AgvOg8EBlqwHPldphvucWNIHtKwfQIrsF33UEzAqN8pBNFklJvjguzB_w0gVgld-OVqgPYA8/s1600/pic2078334_md.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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After making my selections, I went to pay, and found out they have a pretty cool rewards program:<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">I could potentially fill a scary number of these cards in record time</span></i></div>
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After paying, I chatted with Chris a bit longer before taking off. Overall I was really impressed with the sotre and the staff - if you are in the area, check them out!BigPaul1ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09209550428128152898noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032085564411071569.post-49122996668538967312015-05-14T19:30:00.000-04:002015-05-14T19:30:00.797-04:00Exemplar Errant Officer & Standard...finishing out my recent Protectorate of Menoth purchases, I picked up a <a href="http://privateerpress.com/http%3A/%252Fprivateerpress.com/warmachine/gallery/the-protectorate-of-menoth/units/exemplar-errant-officer-and-standard" target="_blank">Exemplar Errant Officer & Standard</a>:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2Z8SvcrjmC6WoAMJP8e4aAsFwEotMxa4nz0IcFHx4axF0LHWuafIAuhqIy8x3nyfCLhebPA9Wkkbp19w_VVkP44dYFIPv1UJFec-bycLE08a3eu-ZRRMS_Xgba5lsT6Op14sdxQ-yrg/s1600/IMG_20150416_190953817_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2Z8SvcrjmC6WoAMJP8e4aAsFwEotMxa4nz0IcFHx4axF0LHWuafIAuhqIy8x3nyfCLhebPA9Wkkbp19w_VVkP44dYFIPv1UJFec-bycLE08a3eu-ZRRMS_Xgba5lsT6Op14sdxQ-yrg/s1600/IMG_20150416_190953817_HDR.jpg" height="320" width="248" /></a></div>
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(If there's one beef I have with the Army Box deal, it's that they give you the <a href="http://privateerpress.com/warmachine/gallery/the-protectorate-of-menoth/units/exemplar-errants" target="_blank">Exemplar Errants</a> but not the Unit Attachment, <i>which I've literally never seen anyone <b>NOT</b> use </i>for their infantry-type units). This would have been the absolute first set of models I'd have bought to expand my collection, but no one had it in stock locally, so a trip to eBay was necessary. This should be the last of my Protectorate purchases for a bit...BigPaul1ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09209550428128152898noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032085564411071569.post-68710650357604430972015-05-12T13:12:00.000-04:002015-05-12T13:12:00.034-04:00Monolith Bearer & Initiate Tristan DurantI picked up a couple more models for my Protectorate of Menoth force today:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_5KSY-kp1FjiZuAYwKHX1DN4cTfvWmRnBTY5UgGgjqnGJMdKWUln2bbeErnnRbcnAprpCdzJ7d-l8FpioBnHmNcdyd2e55e2tWwS01xEhi84LP2-9RVw1RbQ2PFb0Hzac2SWizCLb-1g/s1600/IMG_20150416_190848650_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_5KSY-kp1FjiZuAYwKHX1DN4cTfvWmRnBTY5UgGgjqnGJMdKWUln2bbeErnnRbcnAprpCdzJ7d-l8FpioBnHmNcdyd2e55e2tWwS01xEhi84LP2-9RVw1RbQ2PFb0Hzac2SWizCLb-1g/s1600/IMG_20150416_190848650_HDR.jpg" height="254" width="320" /></a></div>
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That's a <a href="http://privateerpress.com/warmachine/gallery/the-protectorate-of-menoth/units/monolith-bearer" target="_blank">Monolith Bearer</a> & <a href="http://privateerpress.com/warmachine/gallery/the-protectorate-of-menoth/solos/initiate-tristan-durant" target="_blank">Initiate Tristan Durant</a>. These two models kept coming up in my search for "must have" units, and I think the Monolith Bearer is an awesome sculpt and look forward to painting it... BigPaul1ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09209550428128152898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032085564411071569.post-25190930796768313312015-05-07T19:30:00.000-04:002015-05-07T19:30:00.185-04:00More Protectorate of MenothShortly after acquiring my Protectorate army, <a href="http://funderhammer.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">lars4life</a> & I wandered into our FLGS, where he presented me with some models for my birthday:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtgxuZea0N0x7uZJ4Hj_XSMauVea4-Kks4ZjPYdVvdjpjUzWlChslXZ306JoJkW5WGprK7foE3fFFmzWZoJ13uxm8TiVsHtTrgL_Hn9Nf2xy7ugVqL-9O29GBDcDmofb2zbRKaaSw6XbE/s1600/IMG_20150416_190919792.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtgxuZea0N0x7uZJ4Hj_XSMauVea4-Kks4ZjPYdVvdjpjUzWlChslXZ306JoJkW5WGprK7foE3fFFmzWZoJ13uxm8TiVsHtTrgL_Hn9Nf2xy7ugVqL-9O29GBDcDmofb2zbRKaaSw6XbE/s1600/IMG_20150416_190919792.jpg" height="186" width="320" /></a></div>
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Sweet! A <a href="http://privateerpress.com/warmachine/gallery/the-protectorate-of-menoth/solos/vassal-of-menoth" target="_blank">Vassal of Menoth</a> and a <a href="http://privateerpress.com/warmachine/gallery/the-protectorate-of-menoth/solos/paladin-of-the-order-of-the-wall-variant" target="_blank">Paladin of theOrder of the Wall</a>! (I bought the <a href="http://privateerpress.com/warmachine/gallery/the-protectorate-of-menoth/warjacks/devout" target="_blank">Devout</a> myself). The menoth force is coming together quick!BigPaul1ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09209550428128152898noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032085564411071569.post-83875233477719448222015-05-05T19:30:00.000-04:002015-05-05T19:30:01.010-04:00How To Get A New Warmachine Army (Without Really Trying)Admitedly, I've been pretty out-of-the-loop regarding wargaming for the past year or so. Talking with <a href="http://funderhammer.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">lars4life</a> on the way to <a href="http://theleadheadblog.blogspot.com/2015/03/adepticon-2015-part-i.html" target="_blank">Adpeticon</a>, he was telling me about the new <a href="http://privateerpress.com/warmachine/gallery/starter-products/all-in-one-army-boxes" target="_blank">All-In-One Army Boxes</a> from Privateer Press, and they sounded like a pretty amazing deal. I resolved to see if the PP booth had any when we got to the con.<br />
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The Privateer booth only had Khador (have it already) and Skorne (not interested). My main interest would be Protectorate of Menoth or Cryx, neither of which was out yet.<br />
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When we got our swag bags, there was a Warmachine battlegroup included, and mine was Protectorate of Menoth:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW5f_DQ1SctpS2qzvVmmJ4GFxLGBmrJ6RdJvKJRsjLRWwvaKaL-G1bUeE1hxmdK-cmoViFwwVouRuCPEj_GfFhQFJAYpeb6OBYias8DoHKcD-RyCnQDnpVToGC8Zm3fsacnq-tnarjkWo/s1600/IMG_20150416_191013617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW5f_DQ1SctpS2qzvVmmJ4GFxLGBmrJ6RdJvKJRsjLRWwvaKaL-G1bUeE1hxmdK-cmoViFwwVouRuCPEj_GfFhQFJAYpeb6OBYias8DoHKcD-RyCnQDnpVToGC8Zm3fsacnq-tnarjkWo/s1600/IMG_20150416_191013617.jpg" height="218" width="320" /></a></div>
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(Fun fact: the first Adepticon I ever went to, I received a Menoth battlegroup - I gave it to lars4life so he could have a second force to run Pressganger demos. The next year, I got a Protectorate battlegroup <i>again</i>, and traded it for Khador. Okay, so it's really not that fun of a fact. Deal with it).<br />
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I really like the fluff for Protectorate, and actually left Adepticon with a little bit of my spending money still in my pocket, so I resolved to hang on to it and keep an eye out for the Army Box. Lo and behold, the next time I visited my FLGS, what was sitting on the "new arrivals" shelf:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv6d3xPAiC1VsTI-dZeNCJDEWLB522cf62-XMg4KJLwr0GGHAWTNZRfebJrWGTcmhbFT0msQ6pOkwENqwKQjSUue5QvRJWNNzsIG9UjPRvxR4KzzPZDdc1FJeAPk51U6CaUDVsPk2bumY/s1600/IMG_20150416_190519818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv6d3xPAiC1VsTI-dZeNCJDEWLB522cf62-XMg4KJLwr0GGHAWTNZRfebJrWGTcmhbFT0msQ6pOkwENqwKQjSUue5QvRJWNNzsIG9UjPRvxR4KzzPZDdc1FJeAPk51U6CaUDVsPk2bumY/s1600/IMG_20150416_190519818.jpg" height="176" width="320" /></a></div>
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The Army box is a tremendous deal at full MSRP, and my local shop sells Warmachine for 20% off everyday, so I got all this for a little over a hundred bucks:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD7x8sD8y1DfkieQ0aRM-H7wRrIpSG6b6zg2siFJEQfu72sZWHFv_oWAsv_-orkHNotqvp1pII74DhvmVWhuD_4SoA1cJ0cUFJ2z2ClvWYXClQQejv1lMC6wdEOqn_BcCdSUIs-eb2Gbk/s1600/IMG_20150416_190530428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD7x8sD8y1DfkieQ0aRM-H7wRrIpSG6b6zg2siFJEQfu72sZWHFv_oWAsv_-orkHNotqvp1pII74DhvmVWhuD_4SoA1cJ0cUFJ2z2ClvWYXClQQejv1lMC6wdEOqn_BcCdSUIs-eb2Gbk/s1600/IMG_20150416_190530428.jpg" height="176" width="320" /></a></div>
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...which is a steal. I started doing some research about what to get next, and one of the models that kept coming up in the forums was <a href="http://privateerpress.com/warmachine/gallery/mercenaries/solos/gorman-di-wulfe-rogue-alchemist" target="_blank">Gorman di Wulfe, Rogue Alchemist</a> - well, lars4life & I took a painting class at Adepticon taught by PP's <a href="http://privateerpress.com/community/privateer-insider/insider-4/6/2010-matt-dipietro" target="_blank">Matt DiPietro</a>, and he gave us a model to practice on - that model? None other than Gorman di Wulfe:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn41gzVLkVypWh1wKuswcAHBVIdDt1N0aVXHIhcueJXJS4upNtwnpzj5QRFaCYnAEkO6DGUGLn66U_ZZEXYeFCCqgEBuZVQ_wCD00QrQo963Hoy_PwqUjSPfSWctkeZr5LelZeAqqXAlU/s1600/IMG_20150416_190703526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn41gzVLkVypWh1wKuswcAHBVIdDt1N0aVXHIhcueJXJS4upNtwnpzj5QRFaCYnAEkO6DGUGLn66U_ZZEXYeFCCqgEBuZVQ_wCD00QrQo963Hoy_PwqUjSPfSWctkeZr5LelZeAqqXAlU/s1600/IMG_20150416_190703526.jpg" height="263" width="320" /></a></div>
So, thanks to a free Battlegroup, a free Merc model, and a great FLGS, I wound up with a brand-spankin'-new 48 point Warmachine army for just over $100:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1bmP-NxbKakFUaIFLU4JWSCQ77eEjnlUrueR1O8tcd8AYvJ25l5U5Ity5dsF5u3B25eNCwUmscpuzpd9OB-oApcbSFCMR9h5wxc5frwajcaeQnWi3lTFfgn8nn96M4cEWboUTEAOzk18/s1600/IMG_20150416_191031495.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1bmP-NxbKakFUaIFLU4JWSCQ77eEjnlUrueR1O8tcd8AYvJ25l5U5Ity5dsF5u3B25eNCwUmscpuzpd9OB-oApcbSFCMR9h5wxc5frwajcaeQnWi3lTFfgn8nn96M4cEWboUTEAOzk18/s1600/IMG_20150416_191031495.jpg" height="152" width="320" /></a></div>
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That's an <b>insane</b> deal - I've bought crusty, covered-with-three-layers-of-paint models from Craigslist that weren't much cheaper. Next is to get it painted and on the table...BigPaul1ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09209550428128152898noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032085564411071569.post-36901057637969158732015-04-30T19:30:00.000-04:002015-04-30T19:30:00.427-04:00New Board Games...it almost seems like a cosmic law that when a good deal comes around, I won't have any money. Or, I'll have money saved for a very specific purpose, and an amazing deal will pop up elsewhere (this was the first year in recent memory, for example, where a too-good-to-say-no Craigslist deal on a new army <i>didn't</i> pop up a week before Adepticon).<br />
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So, I was a bit shocked when I found myself with a little bit of extra money in my bank account when this email showed up in my inbox:<br />
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(A friend recently informed me that Amazon does this sale every year to coincide with <a href="http://tabletopday.com/" target="_blank">International TableTop Day</a>). It had been quite a while since I had added any board games to my collection, and they actually had a pretty good selection - I wound up grabbing <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/16992/tsuro" target="_blank">Tsuro</a>, <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/129622/love-letter" target="_blank">Love Letter</a>, and <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/65244/forbidden-island" target="_blank">Forbidden Island</a>:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6zJDo6pILFz3dXTnG_YTrpGY4sKgdppfbeEP2yezAuLNd8i08W14HmWZLv54NyImG4NNAbO9gdwauTM6-_LVSqvpTi5C0SucMIICXneMoUE6ZNcgLQsGH1xb-w4qi2F3jL_GVwKUas7g/s1600/IMG_20150419_063856202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6zJDo6pILFz3dXTnG_YTrpGY4sKgdppfbeEP2yezAuLNd8i08W14HmWZLv54NyImG4NNAbO9gdwauTM6-_LVSqvpTi5C0SucMIICXneMoUE6ZNcgLQsGH1xb-w4qi2F3jL_GVwKUas7g/s1600/IMG_20150419_063856202.jpg" height="320" width="284" /></a></div>
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...all of these have been on my wish list for a while - I was <i>reeeeally</i> tempted to pick up a copy of <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/68448/7-wonders" target="_blank">7 Wonders</a>, because it was crazy cheap, but I wanted to focus on games that are known to play well with two players, since it's just my wife & grabbing a quick game a lot of the time. I was also flip-flopping on <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/160499/king-new-york" target="_blank">King of New York</a> just because I've heard good things about it, but they sold out while I was trying to make up my mind, saving me from making a decision.<br />
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Once I get a few plays in with these, look for a review!BigPaul1ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09209550428128152898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032085564411071569.post-3509867757238388992015-04-28T14:15:00.000-04:002015-04-28T14:15:00.143-04:00Khador Manhunter SoloI finished a Khador Manhunter Solo the other day:<br />
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...this was probably one of the first models I bought beyond the battlebox because it's a highly recommended addition to a Khador army, but it's been unfinished forever - because the<b> *&%#@</b> arms<i><b> </b>kept breaking off</i>. <b>Every. Time, I. Turned. Around.</b> Every time I opened my bag the GD arms would be broken off. I finally scraped & drilled the sockets, stuck them on with Super Glue and Green Stuff, and have resolved to throw it in the ocean if they break off again.<br />
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Painting was pretty unremarkable, except I came across a bottle of <a href="https://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/flesh%20wash/latest/09253" target="_blank">Reaper Flesh Wash</a> in my newly-filled <a href="http://theleadheadblog.blogspot.com/2015/04/review-ironheart-artisans-dropper-tray.html" target="_blank">dropper tray</a> while I was working on it - I have no idea where it came from, as I didn't buy it, and don't remember getting it as a sample in a swag bag. I was even hesitant to try it, as it looks <b>VERY</b> purple right out of the bottle - but I wasn't really happy with how the skin tone was coming out on this model, so I thought I'd give it a shot. I was really pleased! It's much more natural looking when it dries than GW's Baal Red wash or the Army Painter red ink that I've been using lately.BigPaul1ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09209550428128152898noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032085564411071569.post-82274627030325527132015-04-23T14:05:00.000-04:002015-04-23T14:05:00.120-04:00Hobby Time!One of the deals I struck for my birthday was for some hobby time - I was off work, the baby was at Grandma's, and my wife was working, so <a href="http://funderhammer.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">lars4life</a> & I got to spend a day hobbying:<br />
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It felt good to be working on stuff again. Above you can see my new portable set-up, which I'll be detailing in an upcoming post...BigPaul1ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09209550428128152898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032085564411071569.post-81334070318398835712015-04-21T19:30:00.000-04:002015-04-21T19:30:00.139-04:00Itsha BirfdaySo, I've noted <a href="http://theleadheadblog.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-wheels-on-bus-go-round-and-round.html" target="_blank">my fondness</a> <a href="http://theleadheadblog.blogspot.com/2013/05/lego-d00dz.html" target="_blank">for LEGO</a> before on this blog, and just thought I'd share some neat gifts I got for my birthday this year:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsWL-7VEk2sGsejZAS2kPkB_4fxxTPJBPR4YDWEGhHBMQrEWyEbk2ESHc2UqQb90-tn_07W70HhA-B0tXA864m6-f8tRosWrfaUVLlLCrkyrXAT6cvQ1hgIe3sVWk7qsijCtAw_bWVhAg/s1600/IMG_20150411_080529013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsWL-7VEk2sGsejZAS2kPkB_4fxxTPJBPR4YDWEGhHBMQrEWyEbk2ESHc2UqQb90-tn_07W70HhA-B0tXA864m6-f8tRosWrfaUVLlLCrkyrXAT6cvQ1hgIe3sVWk7qsijCtAw_bWVhAg/s1600/IMG_20150411_080529013.jpg" height="312" width="320" /></a></div>
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...the double-decker couch from The LEGO Movie! The real story here isn't really the couch, but all the minifigs the set comes with - I really wanted a UniKitty, but the only set I had noticed that it was included with that I was interested in was <a href="http://shop.lego.com/en-US/MetalBeard-s-Sea-Cow-70810" target="_blank">Metalbeard's Sea Cow</a>, and I wasn't willing to pay <i>two hundred and fifty dollars</i> for it. It also comes with a ghost Vitruvius (I came dangerously close to paying $50 for a "limited edition" Blu-Ray back around the holidays just to get the Vitruvius fig) and a <a href="http://shop.lego.com/en-US/Benny-s-Spaceship-Spaceship-SPACESHIP-70816" target="_blank">Benny</a>, which gives me all the feels - the LEGO Space sets were my absolute favorite as a kid.<br />
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It also came with a couple of Spongebob Squarepants Mega-Blok (boo hiss) figures that my friend bought because the store was sold out of the individual LEGO minifigs - I'm usually not a fan of Mega-Bloks, or even Spongebob particularly, but this fig cracks me up every time I look at it:<br />
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<i><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">NO, THIS IS PATRICK</span></b></i></div>
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Later that evening, my wife took me took a great dinner with all my friends, and I was presented with this:<br />
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The Ghostbusters <a href="http://shop.lego.com/en-US/Ghostbusters-Ecto-1-21108" target="_blank">Ecto-1</a>! I've really wanted this set - it was about the only thing I was bummed about not getting at Christmas, and it was starting to get hard-to-find, so I just kind of resigned myself to not getting it - it was totally unexpected!</div>
BigPaul1ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09209550428128152898noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032085564411071569.post-41057159798078295422015-04-16T19:30:00.000-04:002015-04-16T19:30:00.877-04:00Khador: Vladimir Tzepesci, The Dark PrinceAnother model I finished recently:<br />
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This is Vladimir Tzepesci, The Dark Prince. I originally started this model quite a while ago, but it wasn't holding my interest, so it got thrown in my bag. I dug it out recently because I've resolved to finish all my partially completed/needs repaired/etc Warmachine models before moving on to new ones, and I sat and sat and tried to come up with a novel technique or conversion for this one... turns out, it's just not a very interesting model. Really. He has some neat abilities that I want to try out, but as far as the model goes it's just not terribly compelling. So, I just finished 'em off and ran with it...BigPaul1ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09209550428128152898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032085564411071569.post-55604594478901563942015-04-14T19:30:00.000-04:002015-04-26T10:56:10.181-04:00Khador: Battle MechaniksHey, look at me - I actually painted a unit for the first time in over a year!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKYmg9U02szqMEhn4Jx7nhk8cbSiivOdZPRy9Ef3XnR88lg3X-q_M5ZMFA4ujVelStvueifVdai1UblTMBOU_n4A_pQfQXUAaLVEm91D2-WZzSZH2gWU8ejmFLVDGte9h_6D8bAT8PSiY/s1600/IMG_20150412_114542586_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKYmg9U02szqMEhn4Jx7nhk8cbSiivOdZPRy9Ef3XnR88lg3X-q_M5ZMFA4ujVelStvueifVdai1UblTMBOU_n4A_pQfQXUAaLVEm91D2-WZzSZH2gWU8ejmFLVDGte9h_6D8bAT8PSiY/s1600/IMG_20150412_114542586_HDR.jpg" height="184" width="320" /></a></div>
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These are the Khador Battle Mechaniks that <a href="http://funderhammer.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">lars4life</a> got me as a birthday gift... <i>two years</i> ago, I think? They've been primed and knocking around in my bag since then. While we were at <a href="http://theleadheadblog.blogspot.com/2015/03/adepticon-2015-part-i.html" target="_blank">Adepticon</a> we decided to go downstairs one night and make use of the open hobby area, and next thing I know they were 90% done - a few touch ups, some clearcoat & basing and they're done! Cetainly not my best work, but not bad for shaking off the rust...BigPaul1ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09209550428128152898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032085564411071569.post-57662509037216863182015-04-09T19:30:00.000-04:002015-04-09T19:30:00.333-04:00Review: Ironheart Artisans Dropper Tray...so <a href="http://theleadheadblog.blogspot.com/2015/03/adepticon-2015-part-i.html" target="_blank">while I was at Adepticon this year</a>, I stopped by the <a href="http://ironheartartisans.com/" target="_blank">Ironheart Artisans</a> booth. Mainly to see what new stuff they had, but also just to say hello - I always enjoy talking with them. They're great guys (& a girl) and, for some reason, are one of the only vendors with the foresight to bring spare hobby supplies (glue, paintbrushes, etc) to<b> a hobby convention</b>. (They pretty much sell the hobby supplies at MSRP as a courtesy to us gamers).<br />
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Anyways, last year I bought one of their <a href="http://ironheartartisans.com/shop/paint-brush-rack/" target="_blank">paintbrush racks</a> & a couple of their <a href="http://ironheartartisans.com/shop/4-tier-stepped-paint-rack/" target="_blank">4-tier stepped paint racks</a> to organize my airbrush paints, and was pleased with both purchases. This year, they had a really cool prototype paint tray with handles & locking cover, but the problem was it's designed to fit the P3 paint pots - I really don't use that many P3 paints. But, another item caught my attention - their <a href="http://ironheartartisans.com/shop/dropper-bottle-tray/" target="_blank">dropper bottle tray</a>:<br />
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See, since my son was born, I've had to go semi-mobile with my hobbying - I watch him a few days per week, so I needed something to carry the essentials. I grabbed one and brought it home to try it out.<br />
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Like most of the Ironheart pieces, it's laser-cut MDF and comes unassembled:<br />
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It went together pretty easily (MUCH more easily than their 4-tier trays) and I just put some wood glue on the tabs & edges when I assembled it:<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(Now with 100% more festive Easter tablecloth, courtesy of my wife)</i></span></div>
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And here it is loaded up with 70 of my dropper bottles:<br />
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One of the nice things is that the tray is deep enough to hold the bottles securely, but shallow enough that it's easy to read the labels. This also makes it easy to group certain paints together - for example, all my flesh tones are along one edge:<br />
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...and all my "utility" paints are along one edge:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(You might have noticed that most of my paints these days are Reaper, Vallejo, & Army Painter. I'll cover the reasons for the switch away from GW in an upcoming article.)</span></i></div>
<br />
Overall, I'm pretty pleased with it - it's cheap enough to buy on an impulse, but sturdy enough that I can toss it on top of my bag and it doesn't break. (As long as you use a good quality glue to put it together - I used <a href="http://www.gorillaglue.com/gorilla-wood-glue" target="_blank">Gorilla Wood Glue</a>). So far Ironheart Artisans are three for three on stuff I've bought from them - I look forward to seeing what they come up with next!BigPaul1ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09209550428128152898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032085564411071569.post-74964378323274632752015-04-07T19:00:00.000-04:002015-04-07T19:00:01.422-04:00In Convenience <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />BigPaul1ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09209550428128152898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032085564411071569.post-89952818627609512282015-04-02T19:00:00.000-04:002015-04-02T19:00:04.404-04:00AdeptiCon 2015 Part II<h3>
<b><u>Saturday</u></b></h3>
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On Saturday, our first class was "Six Step Eyes" with <a href="http://arcanepaintworks.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Meg Maples</a>:<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Meg showing us how it's done</span></i></div>
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In the past ten years or so, I've probably taken half a dozen classes just on how to paint eyes. It's probably the first major hurdle of taking your painting beyond "tabletop quality" for most painters. I've tried different methods, technical pens, etc., and it's still 90% luck for me. This class came closer than any other to giving me the ability to <b>actually be able to paint eyes</b> - I think with a little practice, I'll be able to replicate it consistently. I'll even give you the six steps so you can try it yourself:<br />
<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>-Paint entire eye socket black</li>
<li>-White oval (eyeball)</li>
<li>-Black dot (outer edge of iris)</li>
<li>-Color dot (iris)</li>
<li>-Black dot (pupil)</li>
<li>-White dot (reflection)</li>
</ol>
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(Optional): Gloss coat eye so it's shiny.<br />
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That's it. And it made sense. Here are a few of my attempts:<br />
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...so it's not <i>great</i>, but this is <b>far </b>better than I've been able to achieve in the past. Plus, I was having a <i>really</i> hard time picking out the eyes on this model - Reaper claims you don't need to prime their "Bones" models, but I find it necessary just because I can't see the details on that bright white finish they come in right from the factory.<br />
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Our next class was "Painting Sheer Fabric", again with <a href="http://www.brushmistress.com/" target="_blank">Jessica Rich</a>. Man, this class was <b>hard</b> for a guy who mostly paints power armor 90% of the time. And, as Jessica warned us, when you paint a model using this method, it has an extremely long "this looks like crap" phase until everything starts to pull together. Regardless, you can see a (very) little bit of the intended effect in this WIP pic of my model:<br />
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Compare that with <a href="http://brushmistress.com/gallery/DarkSword/LadyInWaiting.jpg" target="_blank">what Jessica is able to achieve</a>, and it's pretty sad. Still, it was fun to try. lars4life & I have already been talking about where we might be able to apply the technique to our own armies.<br />
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After classes, we headed out for dinner - we usually budget for one "nice" dinner per trip to AdeptiCon, and this year we went with <a href="http://www.webergrillrestaurant.com/index.html" target="_blank">Weber Grill Restaurant</a>:<br />
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...which was <i>fantastic</i>. We headed back to the hotel and hung out for bit before calling it a night. The next morning we made one last lap through the dealer room (I made a few purchases that I'll be reviewing here shortly) and headed back home, another AdeptiCon in the bag!BigPaul1ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09209550428128152898noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032085564411071569.post-81790408507576453162015-03-31T19:00:00.000-04:002015-03-31T19:00:02.077-04:00AdeptiCon 2015 Part I<h3>
<b><u>Thursday</u></b></h3>
...so after doing little-to-no hobbying for most of the past year (for reasons, see my <a href="http://theleadheadblog.blogspot.com/2015/03/slight-return.html" target="_blank">previous post</a>) <a href="http://funderhammer.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">lars4life</a> & I headed out for <a href="http://www.adepticon.org/" target="_blank">Adepticon 2015</a>. The big change this year was that the con moved to a bigger venue at the Renaissance Schaumberg Convention Center:<br />
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The hotel was pretty nice - pretty much on par (amenity-wise) with the former venue, but much bigger. It was nice to have more space, but I get the feeling that the folks at the Renaissance didn't really "get" the needs of the con just yet, but hopefully that'll work itself out in the coming years.<br />
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After putting our bags away, we headed downstairs to get out badges & swag bags. As usual, the AdeptiCon swag bag was one of the best out of any convention I attend:<br />
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...A <a href="http://privateerpress.com/warmachine/gallery/starter-products/the-protectorate-of-menoth-battlegroup" target="_blank">Protectorate of Menoth battlegroup</a>, <a href="http://www.minitaire.com/" target="_blank">Badger</a> & <a href="http://www.reapermini.com/" target="_blank">Reaper</a> paints, brushes from <a href="http://www.gamesandgears.co.uk/" target="_blank">Games & Gears</a>, minis from<a href="https://palladium-store.com/1001/category/Robotech-RPG-Tactics.html" target="_blank"> Palladium</a>, <a href="http://victoriaminiatures.highwire.com/" target="_blank">Victoria Miniatures</a> & <a href="http://sodapopminiatures.com/" target="_blank">Soda Pop Miniatures</a>, as well as a ton of coupons for more freebies & discounts in the dealer room. I <i>really</i> wish some of the other cons would take a lesson from AdeptiCon in the swag bag department. <br />
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Since the registration desk was right in the dealer's hall, we took a quick lap while we were there. I wandered past the <a href="http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/#&panel1-1" target="_blank">Forge World</a> booth and was a bit taken aback that there wasn't a line - last year, I got my stuff after a thirty-minute wait, and that felt like a gift. I walked up to the nearest employee and said "Can I pick up my preorder?" He said "Sure!" and grabbed the box. I kept if pretty small this year - I got the <a href="http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Warhammer-40000/Space_Marines/Space_Marine_Aircraft/CAESTUS-ASSAULT-RAM.html" target="_blank">Caestus Assault Ram</a> (just because I've been drooling over that model since it was released a couple of years ago), a <a href="http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Warhammer-40000/Chaos/DAEMONS_AND__BEASTS/KHORNE-BLOOD-SLAUGHTERER.html" target="_blank">Khorne Blood Slaughterer</a> & some <a href="http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Warhammer-40000/Chaos/CHAOS_INFANTRY_AND_ACCESSORIES/CHAIN_AXES.html" target="_blank">chain axes</a> to outfit a Chaos project I've got in the works (<i>more info coming soon!</i>)<br />
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After that, we pretty much just wandered around the con, checked out the displays, and said hi to some friends before heading off to bed.<br />
<h3>
<b><u><br /></u></b></h3>
<h3>
<b><u>Friday</u></b></h3>
<div>
<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
On Friday we had out first class - "TNA: The Art of Painting Hot Chicks" with <a href="http://www.brushmistress.com/" target="_blank">Jessica Rich</a>. This class was all about the proper way to shade muscle groups on minis that are sculpted mostly (or completely) nude. Jessica is extremely qualified to teach this, as shown by <a href="http://crystalbrush.coolminiornot.com/cbartwork/index/id/842" target="_blank">her piece that took 3rd overall in the Crystal Brush this year</a>. Needless to say, my attempt was a bit more rudimentary:<br />
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But, I can only accomplish so much in two hours, and the class was extremely helpful in breaking down the steps in painting anatomy.<br />
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Our next class was "Hands On With Two-Brush Blending" with <a href="http://privateerpress.com/community/privateer-insider/insider-2-15-2011" target="_blank">Matt DiPietro</a>, a studio painter for Privateer Press. I had previously taken a version of this class with <a href="http://arcanepaintworks.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Meg Maples</a>, who <i>also</i> used to paint for Privateer Press - this is pretty much their "signature" technique. And, like before, I wasn't really crazy about it. I <i>get</i> it, and I can do it given enough practice, but I'm just not convinced that the results are worth the effort, or at least that I can't get similar results with other methods that are more natural to me. Sorry, it just doesn't "click" with my brain for some reason.<br />
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Our last class of the day was "Blood, Guts, Puss and Gore" with <a href="http://crystalbrush.coolminiornot.com/cbartwork/index/id/791" target="_blank">Michelle Blastenbrei</a>. I didn't realize it when I signed up for it, but I had actually taken this class with Michelle at GenCon a few years ago - this actually made it kind of interesting, because I was able to see how Michelle had expanded and changed the methods she teaches. Regardless, it was a lot of fun, and Michelle gave every student a whole box of goodies to play with!<br />
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After the class, a friend of ours from out of town showed up, and we all made our way down to the open hobby area in the lobby and painted for a couple of hours while meeting new people and trading techniques. <br />
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<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Next: Part II!</span></i>BigPaul1ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09209550428128152898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032085564411071569.post-66445292440799885112015-03-29T09:55:00.000-04:002015-03-29T09:55:04.408-04:00Slight Return...so, since I've been gone:<br />
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...that's Jude. He came along shortly after GenCon last year. It was a bit of a difficult pregnancy, and it's been even more of an adjustment being a first-time father while looking down the barrel of my 40th birthday. Regardless, it's been a blast, and I'm finally found a few ways to get a tiny bit of hobbying in here and there between feedings & diaper changes (which will be the subject of an article in the not-too-distant future). My Adepticon recap will be going up this week, and keep an eye out for more regular content!BigPaul1ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09209550428128152898noreply@blogger.com0