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Ish

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Everything posted by Ish

  1. No, you cannot place a model on top of another model. Models can only "be moved vertically in order to climb or traverse ... scenery." (WH40k Core Rules, pg. 3)
  2. Rogal Dorn was left-handed, famously so. That’s why the Imperial Fists’ chapter badge and that of most of their successors is a left hand. Now, it’s a very traditional trope that left handed people are untrustworthy, suspicious, and just generally sinister. In fact, the very word sinister comes from Latin where it literally just means “left or on the left side of” and yet even in Ancient Rome it was being used as a metaphor for untrustworthiness or betrayal. Conversely, the Latin word for “on the right,” dexter, would go on to become a root for words about “usefulness” and “skillful,” like dexterity... An important and trusted advisor is your “right hand man,” Christianity teaches that Jesus “is seated at the right hand of the Father,” and so forth. But, picture a fully armored fighting-man with spear and shield. Which hand is he holding his shield in? Dorn is metaphorically the Shield of the Emperor. He is his father’s left hand. Meanwhile, it was Horus, the Emperor’s “right hand man” who betrayed his father... and the lightning claw that he has passed down to Abaddon the Despoiler known as the Talon of Horus? Yeah, it’s right handed. I don’t know if Rick Priestly and Jervos Johnson intended all of this or if it’s just a happy accident... But it’s kinda neat.
  3. The other nautical oddity that fascinates me is “Point Nemo,” which lies in the South Pacific Ocean at 48°52.6′S 123°23.6′W, approximately 1,451 nautical miles from land of any kind, making it the most geographically inaccessible place on earth... So, if you ever need to build your James Bond Villain style undersea lair, that’s the spot.
  4. It has been a lifelong dream of mine to visit "Null Island," the name given to the spot in the open ocean just south of Ghana where the Prime Meridian and the Equator cross. There isn't any landmass there, just a rusty old weather buoy but it is anchored exactly at 0°N 0°E. Behold! The center of the world!
  5. The Siege of Jadotville a Netflix Original film from 2016 (which even got a limited theatrical release in Ireland). Best way to describe it would be as a sort of half-way point between Zulu and Black Hawk Down. In 1961, during one of the most tense periods of the entire Cold War, the Congo Crisis broke out. The United Nations is sent into the relatively newly independent Democratic Republic of the Congo to keep the peace in the the separatist Katanga province... But back-room deals and back-channel political maneuverings between various NATO powers, Warsaw Pact powers, African warlords, and the mining cartels that control Katanga manage to make things even more messy. Right smack dab in this middle of all of this is we find the "A" Company, 35th Battalion of the Irish Army. One-hundred and fifty men who had never seen battle (Ireland had been a neutral party during WWII) with very light armament told to secure a dusty crossroads of a "town." Due to the politicians playing their Cold War cloak-and-dagger games, things go sideways fast and "A" Company finds itself besieged for six days, under nearly constant attack by a force of over three-thousand experienced mercenaries (many ex-French Foreign Legion) and African irregulars. The movie has great performances, excellent action sequences, and is just a damn great flick. But the really amazing thing is this is all based off a true story. Anybody who likes a good "war movie" should enjoy it, especially if you are fond of the aforementioned Zulu and/or Black Hawk Down. War gamers with an interest in African bush wars or even Team Yankee-esque "Cold War Gone Hot" alternate history will find a lot to like here too. No, its not the Red Army storming its way through the Fulda Gap scenario that we all feared, but it's one of the very few war movies set during the Cold War that aren't set in Vietnam, Korea, or Afghanistan.
  6. Well, its a university. They needed to be in a somewhat civilized part of the place, not out in the god-forsaken hinterlands with the Red Indians, Wild Animals, and Mormons.
  7. Cyanoacrylate-based glues (a.k.a superglue) should work just fine, but I don't think plastic glue will react with the Shapeways material the same way it does "regular" plastic. Definitely something I'd want to experiment with first... Most of the Shapeways bitz come on sprues of their own, so maybe try to glue some of that sprue to some of your dudemens' sprue?
  8. Just last night, I placed my preorder for two of the Imperial Fist holiday bundles, which are supposed to include quite a bit of sculpted chapter badge pauldrons (18 regular sized ones and 9 larger ones). So I'm probably covered as far as chapter pauldrons go. I'm probably going to order his Squad Marking Multipack to handle the other shoulder... I also really like his shields, but there isn't anything in the Primaris Marines line-up (yet) that uses either combat shields or storm shields. Maybe if I add some Inceptors in the future, I'll put a shield in one hand and have them just carry one gun... I find it easier to imagine them firing one gun twice as fast than I do imaging them using guns-akimbo heavy bolters.
  9. Ironically, I’ve yet to buy anything from PGtM myself, but I’ve been following their shop for a couple years now and recommend them to lots of my friends. They’ve always been happy with them. I follow PGtM on Facebook too and he’s very active with the community, answers questions quickly, and just seems like a genuinely cool guy.
  10. There are a lot of universities called Northwestern, but I assume you're referring to Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois? Well, that university was founded in 1851... At which point Illionis was about as north and west as you could get.
  11. I also feel like it just fits with the overly ornate, overly elaborate, overly... um... over aesthetic of today's WH40k. I'd probably use decals for unit markings and decoration for Eldar or Tau (if I were ever to collect such an army) because they'd look better on the broad, smooth, flowing surfaces of those model ranges.
  12. I used to use the hell outta them myself, but I was mentored in my formative years in this hobby by grognard Napoleonic war gamers. Not sure why they never caught on in the States. My guess is that a lot of American wargamers got into the hobby solely through Games Workshop's own stores (indeed, I've met a few war gamers who've never heard of other war games) and GW doesn't manufacture anything like Microsol/Microset... and the tap water method just doesn't work as well. I will admit that, these days, when it comes to things like Chapter Badges on Space Marines, I really prefer the look of sculpted pads. Especially with third-party bits manufacturers like Pop Goes the Monkey making them readily available.
  13. I'm pretty much counting the hours until I can pre-order the Imperial Fists Interdiction Force. So you have my boltgun!
  14. I’d hold out for a few months (unless you find them for a really good price), maybe we’ll see a new Noise Marine box.
  15. The Warhammer TV YouTube videos with Duncan and Citadel’s base/layer/wash system and their technical paints. I’ve been painting miniatures for many years, but those two things have seriously improved my painting game. I’m sure that there are better ways to do things for that top notch, contest winning sort of painter... But for someone who just wants a really good looking army for playing the game? Duncan is the man.
  16. That’s the nice thing about leagues, you pretty much know that there will be a game happening on a given night.
  17. Well, that one is an Iron Warrior, but the model and unit is useable by any Legion. You’d just paint him differently if he was an Imperial Fist or whatever.
  18. BBC police procedural that differs significantly from most police procedurals in that the entire show is basically about one crime. Unlike Law and Order which has a homicide or two go from investigation to conviction in an hour, or your standard Columbo style detective dramas that figure out whodunnit in an hour and skip the trial completely... Broadchurch spends the entire first series solving the crime and most of series two is dominated by the trial. A young boy is found dead on the beach in a small English town... and foul play is soon evident. The police begin to investigate and a lot of the town’s secrets begin to spill out. Imagine Twin Peaks without the supernatural elements. Each series isn’t quite as good as the previous and I get the impression it’s because the creative team was being pushed to make the show into something more Law and Order-y... Probably to help sell it to Americans. The performances from everyone in front of the camera are outstanding, the direction is amazing in series one and still damn good through to the end, and the cinematography (not something I often get to say about tv) is stellar. Highly recommended to anyone who likes this sort of thing.
  19. This is a very rough “rule of thumb” that I’ve arrived at after playing the game for decades. It also assumes both parties playing are thoroughly familiar with the rules, playing at a brisk (not rushed, but not dawdling) pace, and that conversational banter and outside distractions are minimal. Basically, “serious business” gameplay like you might see at a tournament or in a competitive league. Personally, I like a more relaxed pace with a bit of a “beer and pretzels” casualness to it... But even then, three hours is usually enough to get a 2,000 Point game over and done with. As I’ve said elsewhere, I haven’t played more than a handful of 8th Edition games. I may need to adjust my “rule of thumb” and reserve the right to do so. 😁
  20. Dakka ad infinitius, uber alles, ad nauseam.
  21. Rust-Oleum Specialty Camouflage Spray Paint is a fantastic primer and base layer for anyone who wants to have an “earth tone” as their base color. Bonds great with both plastic, pewter, and FW resin; gives a great matte finish that takes layer paints and washes very well; you can do a whole platoon of Guardsmen with one 16 oz can; and it’s cheap. You’re only options are various shades of brown or green, but that covers a lot of potential armies. I’ve done Dark Angels, Death Guard, Tau, orcs, goblins, dragons, centaurs, treemen, elves, undead, and more Imperial Guard than can be counted with these things over the years...
  22. I generally assume one hour per 1,000 Points. Give or take.
  23. No, but by odd coincidence it would be the heir apparent to the Duchy of Bourbonnais.
  24. Oh, back in the day I had scores of the things kicking around. I mean, at one point I had 20 Leman Russ tanks and since I only used the "Mordian" script, the white aquillae, and the black lightning bolt in a circle badge... Yeah, I had a lot of spares. Hung onto them for years, but never did find anyone who wanted them and never found a use for them myself. But they're harder to come by these days...
  25. Seems like a very nice pace... Maybe add a rule that anyone adding a new unit that is fully painted* gets +1 CP for that match or something. * We’ll use the honor system that it is, indeed, “new” and hasn’t been sitting fully painted in their basement since the Bush Administration.
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