Hello.... Is there anybody out there? AKA Lost in space

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- Is anyone out there? Anyone rec<tsssk...>ing this?
  Do you copy?
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So... A little bit over 6 months of radio silence. Why? Well... Mostly real life issues, buying, selling and moving houses, with the corresponding backlog of things that needs doing at work...

Things haven't been all work and no play,  though. I have managed to squirrel away some time here and there, both painting and gaming; and if nothing else I've officially planted a flag in Warlord Games Fanboy territory...

Accomplishments:

• Fully painted 750 pts C3 Drop Force for Gates of Antares (ok, so I need to varnish two X-launchers, and take a picture of the actual army... )

• Fully painted 500 pts Ghar rebel force for Gates of Antares, with another 250 pts a good way along.

• Fully painted the Terquai Recon Helix for the Planetfall Paint Comp in February 
  

• Finished one, and halfway along with the second Aerial Helix for Planetfall

Gaming wise, there has been mostly Antares:

• 4 games with my Drop list, 1:1:2 going by the Win:Draw:Lost syntax (where the 'Draw' part is debatable, but my opponent was the one having to leave...)
• 3 games with my Rebel Ghar list, actually going 3:0:0! And one of those games was against my own Drop list, played by Avalon.
• Planetfall: a few games, but I do not have them as well documented as the Antares games (documentation is one of the reasons for this blog, after all!)
• Taskforce: One trial game, back when it was first released. At the time we both felt it lacked something; we'll have to see if the stats added in May can give it some more depth. 

And that is basically it: looking forward it looks like Antares will be high on the agenda, but some Planetfall might make an appearance, as 2.0 seems to be moving forward...

Painting competition: week one

So, as previously noted , there is an ongoing inofficial painting competition on the Spartan Games Community, which I've signed up for.

I originally my Command Helix would be a good candidate, but after some digging around I found another pristine helix scheduled for some paint:

Two weeks in review

Quick completion note:

Despite last weeks being a bit of a wash*, painting wise, I've managed to complete my Aquan Minnari Interceptors. Quite lovely models, that I've been a real fan of ever since Spartan showed a preview more than a year ago... 





In other news, Overread over at Spartan Games Community has put together a painting contest that I'll try to participate in, only I need to go pick something up to paint first...  All signs point to my incoming Command Helix being the designated victim.

That's it for now. 

January in the rear view mirror

So, first month of the year concluded, and what's been accomplished?

MMXVI - Project planning and task management

So, with the summary of the year left behind done, what is the aim going forward?
Suffice to say, this blog is doing what it is supposed to do, but I feel that it could be further developed....

MMXV AAR

So, back about a year ago I made a some attempts at a plan for my hobby year, and indirectly this blog.
With my posting frequency reduced of late, I'll at least make a summary of how well my crystal ball musings held up (warning, wall of text lying in ambush behind the cut!):

Tis the season...

Strangely enough, it's been a bit busy with holiday preparations here at the Hobby Front, but I've managed a little bit of hobby time in the calm before the storm:

Paintlog

My never ending struggle against the piles of unpainted stuff continues...

Various family matters has decreased my paining output as of late, but I've gotten one squadron of Planetfall vehicles done at least: my first companions for my might Leviathan:

To differentiate them from my regular Imzanis I've added streaks of white to the sides, to give a clear visual indicator (always important to see what is what on the gaming table)


Other than that, I've got several things ongoing, as can be seen on my paintdesk:

• Infantry from the Recon Helix (one with gun platforms, and one with Fish Cav)
• Light tanks from the Recon Helix (the missiles are not to be underestimated, despite the short range!) 
• Heavy Gunship and Interceptors from my Interceptor Aerial helix

All of which are in various states of block painting (they will probably not receive the same level of attention as my recently completed APCs... )

Also, the eagle eyed among you might have spotted something resembling 28mm models there as well... More about those for my next entry...

No news...

... is good news, right?

Well, perhaps not, but rest assured despite the blog living up to its name lately, things has been progressing in the background, although the hobby:real-life ratio has been lower than normal.

However, inspired by my highly productive blogging neighbour Kraggi I've decided to start actually writing all articles I've been mulling over for the past few weeks, starting with my recently finished terrain piece...

[Planetfall] Troop carriers

Progress has been slow around here lately, as usual, but somehow I've found the time to complete my two <name> APCs from the Recon Helix!

I've also slapped some significant amount of paint on the Infantry supposed to ride inside, but more on that later...

[Planetfall] At long last...

... the ground will tremble, as my fully painted El-Shami Leviathan strides forth!

It's been a long time coming, not helped by the summer vacations and family visits.

The model itself is a very nice looking piece, and will probably remain the centerpiece for my Aquan Army for quite some time. I've also tried a few new things, with conversions, a fairly detailed modelled base, and my first actualy experiment with dry pigments!
More on the last part later, I've learned a lesson or two...

[Planetfall]: Relthoza Recon Helix unboxing

So, a while ago I received my long overdue Recon Helix for my Relthoza army.

Due to currently focusing on getting the last of my Aquans complete, I've not done that much assembling yet, but rest assured, it will come.

Unboxing (and some comments) after the break:

[Planetfall] Birds inbound, prepare the AA!

So, it seems that the latest pre-order is about to hit (as images of the painted models are starting to appear), with the Interceptor Aerial Helixes for all main factions:

All is not quiet on the hobby front...

Been on a bit of a blogging break lately, but that is more due to spending time on actually hobby stuff rather than blogging about it (hobby > blogging...)

That being said, I've painted a bit, and even got some games in:

Paint Log VIII: A lot completed

So, I've actually gotten a fair amount of models done lately, I've just been a bit bad at posting them, so here follows a quick recap of my productive output for May and June:

El-Shami Wip

Some Work In Progress of my El-Shami Leviathan that I've been working on (albeit a bit slower than I'd like), more pictures after the jump:

[Review] Underground Lasers Planetfall accessories

A quick review of UGLs Planetfall tokens and Zero Hour Tracker, both acrylic.

Tokens:

I've been looking at adding to my collection of Planetfall tokens for a while now, I have a set of the tokens that Spartan provided as part of the Platinium package for preordering Proteus Prime, but the number of Activated markers in that set is a bit limited. Enter Underground Lasers, with a full set of tokens, both for Armada and Planetfall.

Shipping and packaging both gets A remarks, it took half an hour from placing my order until it was shipped (!!!), and everything was neatly shrink wrapped, in a few cases with multiple layers.

I'd originally grown used to paying $25 shipping for my order, but thanks to a refund I ended up paying $15, I suspect it might be due to ordering only acrylics, which weights less than MDF.

Comparing them to Spartans own tokens, they are about the same size, but with much larger symbols and actual text describing the token, making readability easier. For these, I'm not even sure it would be neccssary to tint the engraving (which is a must for the delicate engraving on the Spartan tokens, I've even seen examples with painted symbols).

UGLs tokens are the blue ones in the picture above.

I'd give them a solid 4 out of 5, a decent set with good usability.



Zero Hour Tracker:

 

One of the unusual concepts in Planetfall is the Zero Hour Tracker, where you count down Tactical Value points from your starting army points divided by 100.

However, the cardboard version of the counter used to keep track of these in the start box is a bit flimsy, and the movable parts have a tendency to go AWOL.

Enter mr F of Underground Lasers, making an acrylic version.

 

 

The concept is simple enough; two movable pieces, one to keep track of the tens, and one to keep track of the singles. In this case, the actual tracking doodads (technical term, I promise) are kept in place through pre-cut square holes, matching pegs on the doodads. The number in question is displayed through a cut circle in the doodad, making the value perfectly clear. 

 

As an added bonus, the edges are cut at 45 degrees angle, making it usable for measuring fire arcs, or Lumbering movement as well. 

A very good tool that does it's job, and then some, but I do have a few things I'd like to point out:

• The zeroes are engraved farthest to the right, I'd have liked them to the left.
• The pegs have a little bit to loose tolerance, making the doodads susceptible to falling out, if say a bystander would be a bit rough with the counter. Nothing a bit of white glue (to thicken the pegs) won't fix, but a small annoyance nonetheless. 

Score
A weak 4 out of 5, the loose pegs are enough of a irritation that it gets a slight downgrade.

All in all, a solid set of gaming tools for Planetfall.

[Planetfall] The bigger they are...

...the more they need some detailing of their big base.

In lieu of gaming this Saturday, I buckled down and got some long overdue modelling done, namely my El-Shami Leviathan. I'd already decided to change the 'feet', but this time the base was due for some detailing.

My two extra infantry bases volunteered to provide some sense of proportion (better than to spend the foreseeable future unpainted, I guess), and an old Dindrenzi Stormcaller half-track got turned into a wreck. 

After that I set up some putty and sand to create a footprint, and the half track got some tracks behind it as well, to show from where it came

After painting the usual flock will be added, and perhaps even a tree, although that might be a bit much.

Next up: Things I've actually completed recently!

[Planetfall] Terrain Notes

So, during the past week I've actually been playing some games of Planetfall (and finishing up my Core Helix, more on that later).

So far, most of my games has been losses.

I'll admit, I've made a few mistakes (I'm usually far too aggressive with my Recons, for one thing), but I'm starting to consider if me and my opponent does not actually play with too much terrain on the table.

Looking at others battle reports, it seems that at most players have at most 3-5 larger pieces and a smattering of smaller things, which is a far cry from the 8+ buildings, plus forests and bunkers, that usually gets put on our table.
That actually got me thinking; what kind of game is this supposed to be, regarding terrain?

Obviously, terrain has a huge impact on both tactics and strategy, particularly for the Aquans, who at once both want terrain, to make use of the Hit and Run MAR and their above average mobility, and wants clear firing lines, to best leverage the long range of their lasers.

Obviously, this means that there should be some guidelines for how much terrain to use, much like the famous 25% rule in Firestorm Armada.
Looking in the Planetfall rulebook, there are only two ways to set up terrain described;

• In a mutuable agreeable way, which can obviously be any which way.
• Random (or 'Tournament') setup, averaging one terrain piece for every 2' section of the board (so 6 in total).

With the guidelines in the rulebook regarding terrain size, we can extrapolate a min, max and average terrain coverage:

• Minimal terrain is two terrain pieces. Although unlikely (less than 1/10th of a percent) it is a possibility, and will mean that vary little of the board i covered (although two 12x12 pieces in the middle could give something to play around...)
• Average is around 6 terrain pieces, which should cover (36"^2 x 6) assuming that the average terrain piece is half of the max size on each side (max being defined in the rulebook as 12x12"). Coverage 216 square inches, or 6.25 %.
• Maximum assumes 12x12" pieces, 2 per sector, so 12 in total, giving 1728 square inches of coverage, or 50 %. 

Looking at these numbers, we can calculate some kind of median, or at least max divided by two (not really a mathematical median, by any means), i.e 864 square inches of coverage, or 25%.

Based on this, I'd recommend between 10 and 25 percent of coverage, at least as a guideline akin to Armadas 25% rule.
Yes, this means that Planetfall is supposed to have less terrain than Armada, which might not be that surprising, considering the larger impact of terrain dirtside (no indirect weapons to fire through LoS blocking or impeding terrain pieces...).

For my next game, I'll most definitely try the something like the median, or at least something close to it (instead of having 2-3 buildings in the same sector... Let me tell you, that really limits the fire arcs, and thus the possible moves, that one can do)

I'll see if I cannot get some photos of the various setups, to get an image of how much coverage these alternatives really gives.

[Planetfall] Watching the skies...

At long last, my first Planetfall Aquan Heavy tank is completed, the oft-destroyed Haumea:

 At some point during the past weeks I got a bit fed up with doing everything three times over, so my two Sednas are lagging a bit behind, but still, one out of three finished is not so bad...

When I get one more Sirsir done, I'll have my full Heavy Helix (not sure I'll ever get around to the crystals, sharing four between the Heavy and Core helixes seems enough)

I've also managed to progress a bit further on my Levi conversion:

Fairly standard Green Stuff blending of the added parts to the legs (and filling in some gaps in the legs, they are supposed to be living machines, after all).

The 'head' is all assembled, but I'm considering magnetizing it to ease storage and transport (10x10x14 is hard enough to fit anywhere...)



In a moment of weakness I might also have started another faction, I've just started assembling my first Relthoza Core Helix... More about that later.