More Tyrants Online?

You might be reading this and thinking 'This is all well and good, but what are these Teesside Tyrants and do they use any more engaging, modern media than a written word blog?

Well, dear theoretical reader, I have a treat for you!

There is also not one but 2 Instragram accounts, one ran by me which I out pictures on of stuff I have done and that other people in our Whatsapp group have painted:

www.instragram.com/teessidetyrants

and one that Paddy has just started, which I mainly repost on mine anyway.

www.instragram.com/ttpad9

Additionally, Paddy runs an interesting Youtube channel, which started as a Battle Report channel but evolved into him rambling about his painting. Pad's painting is awesome and his rambling unscripted, so definately recommended. Hopefully when gaming is back on we can see more battle reports again.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6SAyauFERVOPIltmDkIEmQ/feed
Catchy link, youtube.

Monthly Update

YES it has been a month since I last did a blog update.
However, in the time I have not been writing blog updates I have been painting, and I have made a good bit of progress.

Romans

I have finished 1000 points of Romans. Yay!

To be completely honest they aren't completely finished as they need grass adding to the bases.

The bases are smothered in a mixture of wall filler and brown poster paint, which makes a smooth paste and dries like concrete. My first batch used sand in the mix as well, but it was too thick and although I managed to get the models off the bases themselves are write offs.

Before putting the mixture on the bases I painted the base and the plinth under the model's feet with a pale brown so that I wasn't trying to colour using the paste, just smooth out the gaps. Worked well, and probably the best solution under the circumstances but will not replace my standard methos of gluing on sand and painting that where that is practical.

I'm moving on from the Romans now to do a couple of other projects. I will return to them when Graham starts an army, or in the autumn if he doesn't.

Carnosaur

One of my goals was to complete a Seraphon army to 2000 points for AoS. The Army Book for them came out a few weeks ago, and in preparation I had bought the Seraphon Get Started kit. I have now built and painted this, which ticks off something that had been on my wish list for at least 5 years.

I went for a natural dark green dinosaur, but brightened it up by doing the scales in bright red. The Scar-Veteran is purple to match my old army.

Yes, I know that 'technically' it isn't based either but get over it. I've got 10 Temple Guard being painted now and I'll base them all together.

Blast from the past

This isn't something I've painted recently at all, but I did get my old Empire out of the loft and found this mad count in there:

oh Marius Lietdorf, why did you let the world explode?

Status

Back in the first update of this series I set out my work order. Lets check this off now!

Splintered Fang DONE!

20 Triarii DONE!

5 Lychguard DONE!

20 Principes DONE!

Carnosaur DONE!

10 Roman Cavalry + General DONE!

Chaos Knight? NOT DONE, BUT HAD A QUESTION MARK ANYWAY!

This means its time for new objectives. Here we go.

1. 10 Temple Guard
2. Necron Monolith
3. 15 Night Lord Chaos Marines

That should see me through the next few weeks. I have ordered an undead army for Kings of War which we are giving a try, but it hasn't arrived and I assume the supply chain for that has closed to stop spreading the Coronovirus (which my job hasn't) so we will see as and when that arrives.

More updates before the end of April!

Triarii complete. Lychguard Complete

I missed both times for updating since my last update, as it is more than a week and I have painted 2 units. I am however ahead of schedule, so that is good. It does help that I've had the week off work while my wife is off for half term, although we haven't been in the house much.

I've also had the brainwave I can write here what colours I use to paint things, and then when I come back to a project I won't be confused.

Anyway, Triarii

I've bought some ingredients for making some Stirland Mud style basing for them, which I think is going to be the easiest way to sort that out. I'll do a description of that when I've done it.

My romand are painted like this:
Black Undercoat
Leadbelcher and Nuln Oil on the chainmail and weapons
Khorne Red, Agrax Earthshade, Wazdakka Red on the red parts
Bugman's Glow, Agrax Earthshade, Cadian Fleshtone on the skin
Retributor Armour, Agrax Earthshade on the brass.

I also got 5 Necron Lychguard done this week.

These are in the same edge-highlighted grey and bright orange as the rest of my Methrit army, which I quite like and goes well on these models, but the edge-highlightingis a pain on things like wraiths.

These are painted thusly:

Bodies: Mechanicus Standard Grey, Nuln Oil (Heavy), Dawnstone, Administratum Grey
Glowy bits: Khorne Red, Evil Sunz Scarlet, Troll Slayer Orange, Fire Dragon Bright
Bases: Baneblade Brown (Or Vallejo US Army Drab), Screaming Skull.

Next up is another unit of Roman infantry, which are sprayed and in the garage now so will probably get on with them tonight. I'm in 2 minds what to do after them though. The list I drew up had the carnosaur on it, but I'm tempted to forge on with the Romans and get the cavalry done so I have 1000 points painted.

I'll let you know how I get on.

Martin

Splintered Fang complete

It looks as though the blog may be inspiring me to keep on with it, as this week I have already managed to tick off my first target: I have painted the Splintered Fang warband.

They aren't as neat as they could have been, and the paint scheme is basically a less complicated version of the one on the box, but I am pleased with them. I'm rather keen on the way the flesh turned out (Bugman's Glow - Agrax Earthshade - Cadian Fleshtone - Kislev Flesh) and I think I will use this as my standard flesh from now on as I've got lazy since I haven't painted many humans in the last few years. I'm also pleased with the bases, made using the Flagstone roller from Green Stuff World, although I used cheap air drying clay from Hobbycraft.

I also managed to get a couple of games in with these at the club on Thursday, bagging a pair of victories against Pad using the Iron Golems and Untamed Beasts in one game each, although the first scenario favoured me and I did roll a lot of sixes.

The next item on the to-do list was Triarii, and thanks to Storm Clara I have managed to get a good start on these which means I should be on track for finishing the 19 of these this week. Which is good, because Dave is miles ahead with his Carthaginians

Painting this week: Splintered Fang Complete. 😀

Gaming this week: Middlesbrough Gaming Club on Thursday - WH40k 1000 Point Narrative game against Paddy, my Khorne Deamons v. his Ultramarines (win), 2 games of Warcry against Paddy (Wins). Graham and Dave played KoW Historical.

More Updates soon !

2020 Targets

I'm well aware that nobody is likely to be reading this, much less coming back for any updates, but i'm told by my wife that a journal is a good way to keep to targets and also I have a tonne of models lying around. So, I am going to use this long-forgotten blog to list what I plan to get done this year to help me stick to it, and also strengthen the branding of Teesside Tyrants before Paddy thinks his YouTube channel gives him exclusive rights.

Historical Romans

Situation

We are getting into historical wargaming at the shallow end with the KoW Historical Ruleset, which is a bit shallow in depth but is at least fast and easy to keep track of. I'm working through Punic War Romans, Dave is rocketing through Cartheginians and Graham is deciding between Dacians and Persians. So far I have built over 1000 points of Victrix models and painted a Horde of 40 Principes and a Troop of 8 Leves as Skirmishers.

Immediate Goal

I need to get 1000 points painted. This means painting 2 Characters, 20 Principes, 20 Triarii and 10 Cavalry. This is my headline project now but between units I will be working on other things.

Stretch Goal

The army will go to 2000 points. This will mean painting another 20 Principes and Triarii to take those units to Hordes, and also 2 Hordes of Hastati. I haven't worked out a full list yet, but I'll probably try and do some missile units or Cavalry.

Warhammer 40,000

Situation

Last year, without a single blog entry, I painted 2000 points of Necrons after buying many more in the form of several halves of Forgebane, a Get Started Set and 2018's Christmas Megaforce. Ian from Middlesbrough Gaming Club also gave me a Monolith. The 2019 points update pushed me slightly below 2000 points so I have 5 Lychguard built but not painted and 25 points spare.

I also have a half painted Chaos Knight army built around a Renegade Knight I built when they first became a thing. Still to paint is a Knight with 2 Avenger Bolt Cannons and a pair of War Dogs.

Immediate Goal

I need to paint the Lychguard I have built so I have a fully panted 2000 point army of Necrons.

Stretch Goal

I own enough models to take the Necrons to 3000 points. This will involve painting the Monolith and building and painting the units still in the box on the sprue such as Tomb Blades and another 5 Lychguard. As I like the 3000 point level for longer games this would be nice to have, and will also give me options at 2000 points.

The Chaos Knights will be painted - from experience this would take about a week for the big night and another week for the War Dogs. They also need basing, for which I am trying out a roller from Green Stuff World which is drying as I speak, although I have used cheap air drying clay rather than Green Stuff, so it is a bit of an experiment. 

Warhammer Age of Sigmar

Situation

I've yet to be won over by AoS, however we are playing it at the club so I have built a functioning Khorne army around my 40k Deamon army and added some Chaos Warriors, Chaos Knights and a Warshrine which I had had an urge to paint for a while. I've also picked up the Cities of Sigmar and Slaves to Darkness books, but haven't committed to either. Early in 2019 I transferred my 8th ed WFB Lizardmen to round bases, and had already decided to use them in a game against Graham's Skydwarves when the new Seraphon book was announced. Since then I picked up the Get Started set with the Carnosaur in on the assumption it will be replaced with another set.

Immediate Goal

Build and paint the Carnosaur from the Get Started set so it can munch any nearby Ironclad Skyvessels.

Stretch Goal

Once the new Seraphon book comes out, transform the army into an effective force. Additionally, use the newly painted Mortal Khorne units to make a Slaves to Darkness Army, both to a minimum of 2000 points.

Other GW Games

Situation

I liked Necromunda a lot, but it never really took off with my group. Regardless, I have a Delaque gang which I bought when they came out and built at Christmas. I also have the two gangs from the Dark Uprising box and the Escher and Goliath from the original starter set.

Warcry has taken off, probably because Pad is very keen and has bought the set, all the warbands and some terrain. He also plays it at home with his 9-year-old daughter. I bought a Splintered Fang Warband for my own in the hope that this will last past Easter.

Immediate Goal

I've already started the Splintered Fang, and intend to get them knocked out pretty quickly. I also need to buy a Warcry rulebook so I can keep an eye on the shenanigans the others are pulling.

Stretch Goal

I'm going to paint the Delaques, more for the principle of the thing than because I expect them to get used. The Corpse Grinder Cult models I want to use as Chaos Cultists for my Night Lords, but they are down the list.

Terrain

I've also got a fair bit of unpainted terrain, but I rarely play at home and the terrain at our gaming venues isn't atrocious so I find it hard to prioritize this. I did binge over Christmas and built and painted dthe Dark Uprising terrain and a load of other stuff I got at a local show, so I have a full set of industrial terrain which looks good. I'm not setting any goals on this because it will need a special focus.

Plan

Overall, the idea is to paint one unit of Romans followed by one GW unit.

This is what I see as the next few items:

1. Splintered Fang
2. 20 Triarii
3. 5 Lychguard
4. 20 Principes
5. Carnosaur
6. 10 Roman Cavalry + General
7. Chaos Knight?

And the hope is that keeping a log of this will keep me on focus as I will need to keep updates.

Hopefully...

(This is presented with no context)

Campaign Rules

Here is the first issue of a set of campaign rules we are planning to try out at the club.

The intention is to provide a framework for a narrative campaign, and give those of us with large armies chance to use them all in a confrontation without having to fight a 10,000 point battle.

Campaign Rules

Have a look and feed back any opinions.

Martin

Army Bios: Warriors of Mayhem

Warriors of Mayhem

Chaos Space Marines

Most wargaming armies contain characters and sometimes these characters are used enough to acquire personalities. To that end, here a few of the personalities from my ever growing chaos space marine (Heretic Astartes?) army.

Organogram

All successful organisations need to know who is in charge of who. Chaos Warbands are no different, so I have produced a handy guide to show the hierarchy amongst my toy soldiers. Some heroes have names, and there's a bit behind them.

Edric Blightbringer

Edric, normally known as 'The Blightbringer', is my main Nurgle Lord. This is the plastic Chaos Terminator Lord kit, without anything special to it. The armour is painted the standard purple and silver of the Warriors of Mayhem warband, but the cloak is the dirty green of my Plague Marine units. In the future I am tempted to replace the model and paint it the same green as his Terminator bodyguard.

The Blightbringer is one of the senior captains in the Warriors of Mayhem, answering only to Rakarath and in charge of a significant sized band of troops. He is rarely seen without his terminator bodyguard to shield him from the worst the enemy can field, and has a preference for fighting on foot rather than teleporting into battle. Alongside the Whispering King, he has most recently been pursuing campaigns against the Dark Angels and the Orks, avoiding fighting enemy leaders to scythe through large numbers of troops with his lightning claws.

The Whispering King

The notorious bounty hunter known only as the Whispering King is the highest ranking Sorcerer in the Warriors of Mayhem beneath Rakarath himself. Commanding the loyalty of the larger sections of the warband who have not committed to a particular god, and leading them in a constant quest for short term glory and power by tracking down valuable bounties, such as most recently Dark Angel Chaplain Rapheal, for those with the right rewards, and also working alongside the warband captains when the situation demands.

The Whispering King is made from a standard Chaos Space Marine with the staff and head from the Plastic Chaos Terminator Lord kit that built the Blightbringer. In games before Traitor's Hate introduced the chaos formations he filled the role of a cheap HQ choice, and has since filled the optional sorcerer slot in the warband formation. With the changes in army selection back to Force Organisation Charts in 8th edition I am fully expecting The Whispering King to make a return to solo leadership.

Rorrik the Packless

Abandoned with a small squad when his Great Company retreated from Espos VII, Rorrik Redaxe continued the fight against the victorious Orks as all Space Wolves would, but for all their skill the numbers of greenskins soon left him fighting on alone. Long he prayed for rescue, for reinforcements, for the power to avenge his packmates on an vicious universe, but when marines arrived they were not wearing the grey of the Space Wolves but purple and silver, or red and brass. The leader of the newcomers tracked Rorrik to his hideout and challenged him to single combat. The Berzerkers howled as their leader matched Deamonaxe to frostblade, but at the critical moment the axe betrayed it's owner and Rorrik tore the Khorne Lord limb from limb. As one the berzerkers fell to their knees, and Rorrik saw a new future opening up, one in service of those who appreciate strength. With his new followers he tore a bloody path through the Ork Hunta Killa Eata patrols searching for him until confronted by the larger part of the Warriors of Mayhem force led by Rakarath himself, pledging loyalty in exchange for power and respect he long desired. Rakarath's campaign against the Orks was short and bloody, ending with the retrieval of a cache of inactive dataslabs used by the Mekboz as decoration on a Stompa's faceplate.

Rorrik is my oldest chaos lord, dating from 2011, which is why he is a slightly different purple to the more recent models. He is a standard metal Khorne Lord, in the purple and silver of the Warriors Of Mayhem. The cloak is painted Space Wolf Grey, and shows his former loyalties. Rorrik is a model who has not been a regular in my armies for a long time, as when I use my deamonkin I tend to use a herald in the single HQ option in the formation, and I often found chaos lords lacklustre in the previous edition. Maybe with the coming of the new edition my original warlord will once again grace the battlefields of the 42nd millennium?

That's all for now. Still to come is the main man(?) himself, and a few other minor characters. I'll also  try and get some pictures of the army itself.