Blitz Bowl: Welcome to the Pitch...Again

For the last few years whenever I referred to "Pitch", I usually meant for a game of Guild Ball.  This past year Steamforged Games dropped the product that started it all for them, our Guild Ball.  There are some die-hard fans that are going to keep it going and we shall see how it goes (it can work, as you will see below).

Sometime in the 2000's Games Workshop had dropped their game Blood Bowl and the fans kept it alive for many many years.  Then in 2016 Games Workshop re-released the game with all new rules and plastic miniatures.

Two years later in 2018, they released a smaller version of the game called Blitz Bowl, to be played with 6 miniatures on your team with a playing time of around 30-45 minutes (once you know the rules).

I did not jump on any of these games because, well I had my Guild Ball.  Come 2020 and time have changed.  Back in September Games Workshop released Blitz Bowl Season 2 and in just a few weeks, Blood Bowl Season 2 will be released.

I am always looking for games that can be played quicker (to fill in some time when we are not playing Warhammer 40,000) and I thought Blitz Bowl may just now be that solution.

You can only purchase Blitz Bowl in US from a Barnes & Nobles retailer, so I placed my online order this past Sunday and my package arrived yesterday afternoon.  I quickly opened my box and got the miniatures assembled so it can be ready for a test game this weekend and then we will bring it with us next week on our getaway.

Now the question arises, do I pre-order Blood Bowl Season 2 tomorrow?

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W40K: Imperial Armour Compendium (Forge World)

The new Imperial Armour Compendium from Forge World was released this past Friday and my copy just arrived in the mail today.

My son and I do not own many Forge World models, just a 'Relic Leviathan Dreadnought' each and I also own a 'Malanthrope' for my Tyranids army, but legally if we use these models in a competitive event, we need to provide a copy of the rules when asked.

The recent reviews of the 'Relic Leviathan Dreadnought' have it considered to be a "loser" in this new book, but I actually feel quite opposite.  For the build out that I run (double Storm Canon Arrays) the cost of the model went down from 350 points to 240 points.  The number of shots for the gun went down from 20 to 16 and the Toughness of the model went down from 8 to 7.  For me the plus side is the guns increased in distance from 24" to 36"and it is a Vehicle which no longer suffers the -1 to hit when moving.  

The distance of the gun is my main plus.  With the new Space Marine Codex, my Chapter Doctrine ability got nerfed and now only works with Strength 7 weapons (and this is only for on Turn 1), so for me the added 12" is a plus and the points decrease will actually see me using this model more now in 9th edition.

Next weekend I plan on doing quite a few test games with it, we shall see how it performs.

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W40K: Imperial Fists 'Primaris Lieutenant in Phobos Armour'

Awhile ago I purchased the Space Marines Vanguard box set so I could have a Unit of 'Suppressors', inside that box also came a 'Primaris Lieutenant in Phobos Armour'.

Now with the release of the new Space Marines Codex, you can only run one "Captain" per Detachment, so the need for a "Lieutenant" is now greater.  So what a better time to finally get a "Lieutenant" completed.

Primaris Lieutenant in Phobos Armour

Primaris Lieutenant in Phobos Armour

I really love the way this model came out and I am finally happy with how my matte varnish spray finished.  I mentioned the other day that my favorite Testors Dull Cote has been discontinued.  Shortly after posting that I found an online retailer (semi local...same state) michtoy.com that just recently wrote a blog post about this and how he did some comparison tests.  The winner was actually from AK Interactive (and it seems a lot of hobbyist use this one) but you must apply it with an airbrush.  I am fine with using an airbrush, but it takes me longer to get it out and then have to clean it and put in back than a spray can.  At the end of his blog post he mentions if you want a spray can equivalent, then try Vallejo Acrylic Matt Varnish.

I ordered two cans that day and boy were they fast with shipping.  My package arrived yesterday and I was able to spray my 'Lieutenant'.  The finished result is much better than what I was getting lately from Testors (ever since they sold to Rustoleum) and it comes out a little cheaper too (that is always a plus).  I just hope that this can will still be easy to find and the results stay the same.

Painting Points: 2

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Weekly Chronicle 2020 #45

The last two weeks have not been too bad, the hobbying has picked up a bit for me and last week I was able to complete two 'Eradicator Squads' 1 & 2 for 6 models completed.

On Saturday my son and I played 1000 points of Warhammer 40,000 and I went with a list a bit different than usual.  I wanted to run something to be more assault just to change it up a bit.  I was running 2 Units of 'Assault Intercessors' and even 2 'Impulsors' to protect them.  My Imperial Fists still manged to get the victory.

This coming weekend we are going to change it up a bit and play a couple games of X-Wing and finish packing for our trip to Wisconsin Dells.  In 10 days my son and I are going to be spending 5 days up in our timeshare just to have a Warhammer 40,000 long weekend (maybe with a mix of another game).  So instead of getting a little burned out this weekend, we'll play something else.

Models Completed: 6

Games Played: 1

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W40K: Imperial Fists 'Eradicator Squad II'

As I mentioned in yesterdays post, I decided to work on all 6 of my 'Eradicators' at the same time, 2 Units of 3 are how I have them officially marked for myself, but they can be played as 1 Unit of 6.

Yesterdays models also put me over 200 Painting Points for the year.  Not as good as the previous 3 years, but I took a lot of time off late Spring, all through Summer and early Fall.  Since most of our games (actually all) have been played at home now, playing the models unpainted does not bother me as much as years past/

To mark these guys as complete, here is the second Unit of 3 'Eradicators'

Eradicators II

Eradicators II

Painting Points: 6

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W40K: Imperial Fists 'Eradicator Squad I'

It has been a long time that I had models completed two weeks in a row.  It seems that late Fall through Spring is usually when I pick up the pace of my painting.  Most of the time it is with the announcement of AdeptiCon that kicks me into high gear to get models completed, but for 2021 we are still waiting for the news.  With how things are looking with COVID-19, I really do not see an AdeptiCon for 2021.  The hope/plan will then be to try and make some smaller one day tournaments in 2020.

Anyways, back on topic, after my game this past weekend I started to prep my 'Eradicators' (all 6) for painting and this week I managed to find time to actually complete them.  I am really happy with that, it seems like the 'Eradicators' are currently the "must have" Unit in an army for now, so being able to complete these feels great.

I did have some issues with the anti-shine matte spray, testing a new brand, Army Painter, since my current go to which has always been Testors dullcote has been officially discontinued.  Hopefully soon I will be able to figure out this new brand (working on some test models now).

These 'Eradicators' came from the Indomitus boxed set and each box came with a Unit of 3.  With the release of the new Space Marines Codex, you can now also run them as a Unit of 6, for now I am keeing them as 3 and can always merge them into 1 if need be.

Here is the first 'Eradicator Squad I'

Eradicators I

Eradicators I

Painting Points: 6

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Weekly Chronicle 2020 #44

Well week #44 was much better that it has been for awhile.  First off for painting, I was able to finish a model for my Imperial Fists army with the 'Judiciar', then this past weekend we got in a Matched Play game at 1500 points.

My Imperial Fists had one hell of a First Turn and did not leave much of the Dark Angels on the board.  By Round 5 it was my entire army (minus 1 'Intercessor Squad') vs 'Belial'

My Imperial Fists ended up taking the victory 78-9.

I was also able to get some models prepped for painting, my 2 Units of 'Eradicators x3' had their sand glued down to the bases and primed for painting.  My goal with these two Units is to have them completed by Thursday 11/19/2020 when my son and I go to Wisconsin for a weekend of gaming.

Then I also was able to get some more models built too.  I had 2 'Impulsor' transports come in awhile ago, I finally opened the box on got both of these assembled.

So all in all, it actually was a really good week.... now lets hope I can finish those 'Eradicators'.

Models Completed: 1

Games Played: 1

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W40K: Imperial Fists 'Judiciar'

It sure feels good to actually get something completed again, painting wise.  It has been just over two months since I last completed a miniature for my Imperial Fists army.  Just before I left on vacation I had started on the 'Judiciar' model from the new Indomitus boxed set, just placed a color on the robe.  Well the other day I thought "let's finish this guy', and here he is.

Judiciar

Judiciar

Painting Points: 2

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Weekly Chronicle 2020 #43

With being on vacation last week, absolutely nothing was done last week except cutting out some foam trays on Sunday for my 'Primaris Invader ATV's'.

I am not really sure what the plan is for this week modeling wise, I may try and assemble a few models if time allows later this week.

For the upcoming weekend, we are going to get in a game of Warhammer 40,000 on Saturday, just not sure yet on the size of game and what army I want to play.  So many choices now.....

Models Completed: 0

Games Played: 0

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Weekly Chronicle 2020 #42

With getting ready to leave on vacation last week, no painting was completed (no shock, my painting has been really slow as of late).

My son and I did squeeze in a 500 point game of Warhammer 40,000 on Saturday just before I left, and I got to break out my T'au and squeaked out victory using the "Open War" cards.

I also managed to assembly my three new 'Primaris Invader ATV's', as of now I am not sure when they will hit the painting table, I would like to get in a few games first and see how they do.

Models Completed: 0

Games Played: 1

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