Firestorm Armada - Background

Firestorm Armada is a sci-fi tabletop fleet scale miniatures game. It is by Spartan Games in the UK. They also produce a fantasy fleet game, a Victorian era steampunk fleet and land combat game and recently a steampunk 28mm skirmish game. But I digress...

In a place of congruence between the six major powers of our galaxy stands a region of space known as Fathoms Reach. The divide that occurred amongst the race of man is the root drive of this current conflict between the Alliance of Kurak and the Zenian League.With lasers and mass drivers, missiles and torpedoes, mines and shields...fleets go to war!

The Alliance of Kurak are basically the good guys and are made up of a smattering of smaller races that can buff your fleets. The main races are:

Terran Alliance:The human race was once proud, large and prosperous until a group of outer systems envied the core worlds. This was the birth of the human Dindrenzi Federation and the Zenian League. Terran ships use long range torpedoes and shield technology in their ships.

Aquan Prime: These peaceloving water-breathing creatures have a vested interest in Fathom's Reach due to the proximity of their original homeworld to it. This ships specialize in mines and 360 degree firepower.

Sorylian Collective: Muscled reptile-like, they have long traveled through the stars albeit at a cautious and slow pace. Thie broadsides and close in damage is immense.

The Zenian League are basically the bad guys, made up of smaller races to buff your fleet:

Dindrenzi Federation: A Xenophopic human dictatorship, they have reluctantly gathered alien races to assist them in their war on Terra and their allies. Their forward firing barrage is the deadliest in the game.

The Directorate:  When humanity left for the stars, corporations followed. This empire is made through the cooperation of three major companies who have little regard for human (or otherwise) rights.

The Relthoza: Spider-like beings who specialize in cloaking technology and broadsides, they seek to expand their territory at the expense of others.

The current rulebook is hardbound and looks like this...

It has clear rules and nice pictures...

The previous rulebook was not well organized but did have scenarios and rules to create ships. So if you have ships from another game lying around and find the previous edition, grab it and the new edition for better rules layout and all the errata. The old one looked like this...

So there you have the background. Next is the basic rules.

Warcaster Elite Caine

Cygnar warcaster Captain Allister Caine is not anti-infantry focused, although I've been told he does that job well. He's primarily a caster assassin.

 Primed white.

 P3 Cygnar Base Blue, 50/50 P3 Cygnar Blue Highlight/P3 Frostbite, and P3 Bootstrap Leather.

 P3 Ironhull Grey trenchcoat then it was drybrushed P3 Cryx Bane Highlight and lightly drybrushed/trim was done with GW Fortress Grey. The base was then painted with P3 Cryx Bane Highlight and lightly drybrushed with GW Fortress Grey. The blue around the Cygnar swan was done in Cygnar Blue Highlight and the swan done in P3 Cygnar Yellow.

 Then P3 Midlund Flesh, drybrushed GW Elf Flesh, and P3 Ironhull Grey.

 Then P3 Cold Steel, GW Runelord Brass, and drybrushed GW Dwarf Bronze.

P3 Cygnar Base Blue and drybrushed P3 Arcane Base Blue on the power cables. Then P3 Menoth White Highlight and drybrushed MenothWhite on the scarf. The P3 Coal Black on the hair and it was drybrushed with P3 Ironhull Grey.

 The washed with GW Devlan Mud.

 Back Left.

Back Right.

I was all ready to start playing with all my Arcane Gun mages: Two Arcane Gunners and UA, Black 13th and two Gun Mage Captain Adepts...until I saw this (its a cool website too). Tempest Blazers or Arcane Gun mages on horses! Sigh. I'll definitely have to get these.

But while I wait for good weather to spray and prime my next batch of models, I'm going to work on and talk about a game I started playing very early this year...Firestorm Armada.

Warcaster Basic Caine

Classic Lieutenant Allister Caine is the premier ranged anti-infantry casters in the game. Or so I'm told, I have yet to play a game with him.

 Primed white.

 P3 Cygnar Base Blue, 50/50 P3 Cygnar Blue Highlight/P3 Frostbite, and P3 Bootstrap Leather.

 Drybrushed P3 Rucksack Tan, P3 Midlund Flesh, drybrushed GW Elf Flesh, and P3 Ironhull Grey.

 P3 Cold Steel, GW Runelord Brass, and drybrushed GW Dwarf Bronze.

P3 Cygnar Base Blue and drybrushed P3 Arcane Base Blue on the power cables. Then P3 Menoth White Highlight and drybrushed MenothWhite on the scarf. The P3 Coal Black on the hair and it was drybrushed with P3 Ironhull Grey.

 The washed with GW Devlan Mud. I forgot the yellow on the rank and Cygnar swan so I did those after and washed them.

 Left Side

 Back.

Right side.

Arcane Gunners and UA

 

So this is the second unit of Arcane Gunners and UA that I've painted in the last few weeks. I'm currently painting up basic and elite Allister Caine so I wanted both to synergise with him and provide good tier list action. I've only played one battle with them so far but they definitely have their uses. Very hazardous when jackmashalling though. I think I would only do that with a Defender for super long range and keep the rest for mopping up anything that gets close. We'll see.

 So I started with P3 Bastion Grey pants, P3 Cygnar Base Blue jacket and hat then drybrush Cygnar Blue Highlight mixed 50/50 with P3 Frostbite.

 Next was P3 Bootstrap Leather boots, holster and belt. Then P3 Ironhull Grey metal parts and those parts were then drybrushed with P3 Cold Steel. Then the flesh parts were painted P3 Midlund Flesh and drybrushed with DB Elf Flesh.

 The hair was painted a variety of colors from model to model. The leather parts and sword handle was painted with P3 Rucksack Leather.

Most models you assemble for any line don't fill in the base in its entirety. I use a filler to tidy that up.

The filler I used is what I always use but I don't think I've shown you for filling bases...my old friend air drying modelling clay.

 Just take a little bit...

 ...fill in the base from the bottom.

 Then smooth it over.

 I use old dental tools that my wife's work is done with and is about to throw away. Just goes to show that your dentist can be a good friend!

 For the edges I went over them in P3 Cygnar Blue Highlight. Then I used GW Dwarven Bronze for the gun, cuffs and details. P3 Rucksack Brown on the goggles, P3 Arcane Blue for some gun details and finally a wash of GW Devlan Mud.

 Here's the group of 6.

 The sergeant...

 ...model type A (there's two in a box)...

 ...Model type B (one in a box)...

 ...and model type C (two in a box).

Here's the UA. Slight differences but the same general scheme.

Superheros - Champions vs Mutants and Masterminds

I've played many superhero games in my life in the 80's. My first was the Champions game system from Hero Games. Then it led to Heroes Unlimited from Palladium, Marvel Superheroes from TSR, and DC Heroes from Mayfair.

Of these, Champions stands the test of time as it is in its 6th edition. It is still the best system to create whatever hero you want. You do have to have familiarity with the system to get the most out of it and math skills are handy. The only flaw I had in it is the sheer overabundance of choice and the time it took to make scenarios and villains for my friends to face against. If you have the patience though, it will reward you.

There has been a new system on the block these last ten years that has grown from its good beginnings to its current third edition masterpiece; Mutants and Masterminds. For me it approaches the choice in making whatever hero (and villain) you want in the Champions system without the complexity. They have also not been afraid to turf what didn't work in previous systems to make it better. They are currently celebrating their 10th anniversary with a special edition of their 3rd edition rulebook on Kickstarter. Their basic rulebook is in the $20 range. They have also picked up the DC license and have a DC version of the rulebook, hardbound, with menagerie books out already.

There are a few new superhero game systems out there that have unique rulesets. Just do a google search and see where it takes you or look in your local gamestore.

Remembrance Day in Tofino

This year, like last year, my wife and I are in Tofino for Remembrance day weekend. I hope that you take a moment today to thank those who stood up to bullies in the many conflicts throughout humanities existence.

Of course, for those who prefer not to, please note that some gave their lives or suffered physical and mental hardships for you to retain that option.

Black 13th

The Black 13th is the three model unit that pretty much every faction in Warmachine and Hordes have. Only the Mercenary and Minion factions do not. I have not used them on the tabletop yet but they look fun and were nice to paint up and easy to assemble.

I started with Krylon white primer and P3 Bastion Grey pants.

Then P3 Cygnar Base Blue for the sashes and shirts. Then GW Chaos Black for the coats, hats and gloves. The drybrush Codex Grey on the coat, gloves and hat. Next was 50/50 P3 Cygnar Blue Highlight and Frostbite on the pants and sash and shirt.

The P3 Midlund Flesh and drybrush GW Elf Flesh on the faces. P3 Bootstrap Leather on the holster. Then P3 Gun Corps Brown on the other wood and belt parts. Then drybrush rucksack leather on all the brown bits. Then P3 Cold Steel on the metal parts.

Then GW Dwarf Bronze on the detail (buttons, buckles, pistols, edging).

After GW Devlan Mud wash, some grit and flock they were done. This pic is the leader Lynch.

Then Watts.

And then Ryan. Next I'm painting Arcane gun mages and a UAs.