Astra Militarum vs Aeldari

In the ever changing landscape of Warhammer 40k missions, here's my first foray into Chapter approved 2025-26. Unexploded Ordnance is kind of weird, and I did not get the reading right on the first try. You can move the objectives and you get points for how close they are to the enemy deployment zone. You don't actually have to control them to score. Weird, but I like it.

So anyway, here's the Aeldari Warhost spread out across their deployment zone. And here's my scions, with some artillery support. I thought to make good use of the cover denying stratagem. Spoiler: it never came up.

Painting more pulp heroines for Call of Cthulhu

Another batch of early 20th century investigators.

Free Folk vs Greyjoy 10.09.2025

Things are happening on the ASOIAF front, but for now, here's a game where I try out Mance Raider as commander, versus my old opponent taking a new army for a spin. Surprising nobody, the Greyjoys deployed in a refuse flank. I countered  them on their own flank, while also making a play for the other flank. The Greyjoys retained their ability to choose first player, so as to direct the arrival of outflankers.

Adding blinking lights, magnetizing, converting and painting an Astra Militarum Valkyrie

Ride of the Valkyries starts playing in the background. 

Masks of Nyarlathotep: Alien contract

We started by going back a bit to the previous scene, with professor Sanchez being struck by a bout of madness. In a panic, he rushed out. Huston just laughed, reminisced about the time he and his cultists lost their minds for the first time, then prodded us to go after him, just so a flying squid doesn't get him.

Masks of Nyarlathotep: Meeting the aliens

After a long string of banter and a short meta discussion about where we are and what we hope to accomplish, we were spirited back into the dungeon.[1]

Converting and painting Cave Dweller Savages and Spearwives (and testing a warm slapchop base)

It's been a while since I used the slapchop method. These minis looked detailed enough to support it.

Game 3: Free Folk vs Baratheons

I never imagined to play Free Folk and get pass tokens. Well, with the amount of 3+/4+ across the table, I decided to bring Mag again for the final game of A Dance with Dragons.

Ninth Battle of Cluswar: A Song Of Ice & Fire: Tabletop Miniatures Game tournament

Mini tournament time! Here's the link, but my personal breakdown: we were 5 players, so a BYE each round. Felt bad, free crushing victories to the best players. I tried a new approach to Free Folk, with less but more resilient units. Well, it didn't really work out. Got beaten 2-1. No, I did not get a free victory. Still, every game was damn close, and I had a good time. Back to the drawing board on the lists, though.

• Game 1: Free Folk vs Starks
  
• Game 2: Free Folk vs Nights Watch
  
• Game 3: Free Folk vs Baratheons
  

Game 1: Free Folk vs Starks

First up, a brutal game of Banners and Butchery. The Starks deployed almost on the line. I missed my animals to hold them back, but they would have been of use trying to hold objectives.

Game 2: Free Folk vs Nights Watch

Next up, my least favorite swingy game mode, Fire and Blood. Free Folk units can't kill anything. Except Mag, but then he gets focused down. Especially with a Ballista on the other side. But again I couldn't bring my zoo, otherwise the animals would just get marked and give up points.

At least we had regular and not in-your-face deployment, so Jarl comes in turn 2. Refuse flanks on both sides.

Painting xorns

More 3d printed monsters for the Dungeon.

Painting githyanki

Two packs of Nolzur's Marvelous pre primed githyanki miniatures, as a palette cleanser.

August review and September goals

August is done and it went... about as expected. RPGs took a break, indeed I played nothing else but a small ASOIAF event. I'll be writing about it next week. However, we'll be starting September in force with both the Dungeon and our adventures in the Australian outback scheduled to resume this week. After, we'll be back at Warhammer as well.

Hobby wise, I finished stuff, including the entire 1920s investigators project (32 girls done total), both squads of Free Folk, and the Krieg artillery teams. Publishing soon. I also advanced on other fronts, by priming Bones miniatures using my airbrush whenever the weather allowed it.

As for September, I have a small commission of 2 giants (including Mag the Mighty). Otherwise I'll be going into painting fantasy miniatures and rounding up my remaining Guard infantry. Also airbrush prime whatever I can while the weather allows it.

All in all, the lull in hobby time is over. Games will resume. I'm ahead of schedule painting wise by 23. Let's have at it!

Dungeon of the Mad Mage: Into the slime (again)

After last session's tough fight against the vampires, the adventurers collected all their loot and travelled back to Waterdeep to sell their treasures and upgrade their gear. While they did not find all the magic items they were looking for[1], the frontline fighters got armor and shields, better weapons and so on. With some time spent on the surface while the armorers fitted their gear, I finally had the occasion to throw some sidequests and roleplay at them.