40K... How Do You Play Yours?

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all from The Folly of War. As we mark the end of a overall good year in wargaming, I feel its time for some reflection and changes with my view of the world of 40K.



This is not my 40K

What a jam packed (strawberry flavoured) year it has been for 40K with the new rule book, chaos 30K and loadsa new shiny toys. Has it been good or has it been bad? Constant moans of "allies is stupid" are being cried up and down the country in tournament games everywhere. The hardcore majority of my friends are of that breed and will stop at nothing to create the most "broken list". I myself have even fallen into the seductive arms of tournament gaming with promises of glory and silverware this year (yeah right I can dream). Many an evening was spent in heated discussion about what should go into an army and what shouldn't due to its viability in tournaments. I remember one afternoon after just purchasing Lucius the Eternal a complete stranger told me that I shouldn't have bought him and that he was a waist of money for a "decent" Chaos army. That kind of conversation really knocks the hobby stuffing out of you and low and behold no Chaos army 3 months later. This type of thing happens to me quite a lot and can be a massive blow to any new army I want to collect.

My Dead Pile

However, after a very one sided game between me and my ever so delightful brother (Space Wolves are his friend) I realised something. Who the hell is anyone to tell me how to play MY damn hobby! I have, quite frankly, had it with tournament players and their "ooooh I don't think you should do that..." attitude. My brother has taught me a vital lesson this year, which is I just don't want to be "that guy". He is a very competent 40k player but his love for his hobby is very different from mine and thats fine. His point was this "I don't like painting but I like to win and at the end of the day I don't care if my army is painted or not". Now, at first I thought my brother was just being a win at all cost kinda guy but actually he has a point. Its his game as much as mine and if he wants to build an army that kicks out enough firpower the British armed forces blush then fair play.

His Dead Pile (the 3 Marines on their own Killed themselves)



My point is I want the same entitlement in reverse.



This is my 40K!!!!!

I want to take certain lists because they're in the background. I want to use models because they look good and I have spent vast numbers of hours painting them. I want to buy a model without being put off by someone elses perspective of the game bluring my own. So, I have decided I am going to go back to how I used to collect when I was a teenager. My Blood Angels are staying with me but I am going to paint the entire 3rd company. If i decide to go to a tournament I'll take a list from what I have and not go out and specifically buy units that will "compliment" each other on the table. I am also looking at going to more themed events (Campaign weekends and Apocolypse games). Hopefully with this in mind I will keep my love of 40K fresh and hopefully not end up (like a lot of people I know) falling out of love with 6th. My wish for 2013 is that people begin to understand that not everyone plays the game like them and thats okay.



You might have a different oppinion or might agree. Am I talking nonsense or the truth? Should we tell people how to play their game? Whats your take? Leave a comment below.

Always Brush After Painting.



"The enemy will never see us coming. Now where
should I put this flag!"



Wow being stuck in the warp you never know when (or where) you might materialise. Welcome back to another heart stopping post coming straight to you from the very depths of the void. This week I talk a bit about weathering techniques, namely toothpaste. I was talking to some friends of mine about their favourite ways of creating chipped and weathered paint on armoured vehicles. They mention using salt, hairspray and other weird and wonderful methods. Now, listening to these methods I thought I'd pipe in and give my own technique that I found whilst scrolling through forbidden tomes and manuscripts. It involves using that very well known modelling supply...toothpaste. After much ridicule, pointing and taking of the mike I was given time to explain. So I thought I'd explain to you...

It began on a wintry day in 1943 Soviet Russia. The cold winter was creeping over the vast barren wasteland. Realising that green tanks tend to stick out in the snow like the time Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker took part in the bring your son to work day (sorry no clip). To overcome this both the German's and Russian's used white wash to paint their tanks to match the bleak winter season. As this was in short supply it was often thinned down hence the reason why the tanks quickly became mottled with green. I wanted to achieve this look for a possible future winter themed army in flames or 40k. So I got to work.

P.S. these are not my pictures as my ones got lost.

Firstly, take your tank model and give it a undercoat in whatever colour you wish the armour to be. I used  an old rhino model but I discovered this works on any tank especially Flames of War models. I found a good dark green or grey works best for this technique.

Next when the basecoat is dry you can apply the toothpaste. The toothpaste acts as a liquid mask. I have found that using a stippling brush or in fact a tooth brush is good for adding the paste for a more natural chipping effect.

After the paste has been applied spray the model with a white spray. You can airbrush for greater detail but as this is for those of us who can't fork out 80-100 pounds on equipment, I'll leave it up to you to make decisions on how much detail you go to. Once the paint is thoroughly dry (if your not patient there will be a very sticky, minty, mess) wash the model with water. Not only will the toothpaste wash off so will any spray that has stuck to the paste. This will reveal the undercoat and give you an interesting effect. Try it and see what you think.

Well with another post over I am back to hard core painting of Blood Angels. I have less than 6 weeks to go and have changed my list for the 7th time. I only have 5 terminators and 5 very nearly finished devastators to go (more on those next week). Right, back to the warp I go. At least this time I'll face the perils of the warp with minty fresh breath. Toodles.

Where have you been?

Good day readers I have emerged from the darkest depths of the materium to bring you at last another article for your enjoyment. I have been unable to post for some time due to work commitments and other more personal events in my life but I'm back.

So here's a run down of what you have missed over the last few months:

Mephiston hates plasma guns!

1. My dabbling with 6th edition 40K army lists ended in disaster after some appalling luck, draws and generalship on my part. I finished very low down in the Octoberfest leader board and with my Blood Angel's wings clipped repeatedly by Space Wolves I have decided to give competitive 40K playing a rest. This is not to say my Angels won't see the light of day, it just means I am going to look at other ways of playing my favourite wargame

Nom, Nom, Nom! Mephiston loves power armour.

2. 30K for the win. Having just had my 26th birthday I received a very eagerly awaited prezzie from my ever so understanding partner. Betrayal, the Forge World Horus Heresy Book is quite frankly a masterpiece of fiction and table top rules. It covers the events leading up to Istavaan 3 and lots of interesting information about the legions before the met their beloved Primarchs. My personal favourites are the Primarch rules and the additional legion rules. I can't wait for the next book!

3. Dropzone Commander. I have just recently started a new game called dropzone commander. This game is a 10mm wargame based in the year 2670. Humanity has been scattered by a parasitic race called the Scourge and must stand against them and other alien threats such as the mysterious Shaltari and the augmented Post Human Republic. What drew me to this game is the sublimely sculpted models. They are a wonder to paint and the game is relatively easy to learn. I have chosen the Scourge and have begun painting in earnest. I have played 2 games and I am picking up the rules quickly. The game has drawn alot of support from fans and I have even managed to download a free army builder built by a very enthusiastic supporter of the game. More on this game soon.

I hope to be back soon with more tips, treats, reviews and other stuff. In the mean time keep painting!!!