July review and August goals

July was better on the gaming side, but let's dive in.

Dungeon of the Mad Mage is still trucking on, with the players currently dying on the level before the last. D&D5.5 also got on track, with our characters now level 4 and a good chunk of the adventure behind us. Both should see a pause during August due to holidays, but that's just how she goes.

We had our national ASOIAF tournament, where I scored 3rd place... same as last year, literally. Cool experience, will join again. Warhammer 40,000 11th edition scarred me for now, with the amount of killing my army suffered over 3 games. I'm working on some Guard vehicles that might help me out in the future. Unsure how these games will fare over August, we'll see.

On the miniature painting front I actually regressed, behind schedule by 112 due to getting some 3d printed guard vehicles and snapping up some Free Folk models. This should see a boost as I'm just finishing a large batch of Guard minis, and then on to some easier commissions. 

So that's literally the plan for August. Chip away at the Guard infantry, most of which I got in February and they're still only primed. Do Guard vehicles, freshly off the 3d printer. Do commissions, then pause with them for a while. Sneak in some easy fantasy miniatures if possible.

And don't die in the summer heat.

Converting and painting 3d printed Escher proxies as Kasrkin and Cadian officers

The second batch of 3d printed Escher-Kasrkin also include officers: Cadian Castellans for the squads, as well as an Ursula Creed proxy. Besides the random colors, I got to experiment with transparent fabric.

D&D 5.5: Keeping up with the Vanthampurs

After another round of shopping and things, we decided on a long rest back at the Flaming Fist headquarters, before assaulting the scion of a noble house. Our captain was easy to convince that the investigation was on track. Rheia left us to talk to her own people, but Mortlock accompanied us to the Low Tavern, a ship converted into a, well, tavern, the usual haunt of Amrik Vanthampur.

Converting and painting Frozen Shore Hunters

A tournament prize from back in 2025. I didn't really want to paint these guys, but I had an idea for an experiment and I dove in.

An essay on slapchop

With that highbrow title, let me lay out the subject. I tried slapchop and I like it for what it is, but I am also acutely aware of its deficiencies. In short:

Pros: 

• quick 
• reasonably good looking (with practice)

Cons:

• looks bad for warm colors
• looks bad for skintones
• if you want to paint some details white... prepare for a hundred layers on black

With these in mind, I applied slapchop where feasible, but painted the skin by hand, avoided very warm colors, and painted the eventual ice bases by hand white. See my Free Folk Raiders.

This was satisfactory for a while, but I do need some experimenting in my hobby from time to time. So I decided to tackle the cons of slapchop with a warm undercoat... see several experiments. Conclusion: slightly better for warm colors, worse for cold colors, and still too rough for skintones. Not worth the effort. Slapchop remained firmly the domain of rank-and-file troops, with the above caveats.

The ideas took some time to marinate, but after a long while, I was ready to experiment again with... slapchop 2.0? Warm chop? White drybrush on colored undercoats? I'm still working on the name. But here's where I got.

Romanian Nationals 2026: A Song Of Ice & Fire: Tabletop Miniatures Game tournament, 11-12.07.2026

It's that time of the year again! We were actually fewer than last time with many pulling out due to summer holidays; however we also had new cast members, and at least as much fun!

With everybody complaining about "the Season of Giants", people felt compelled to tailor against me. Big sad. The Thorn Watch sure taught me a lesson. I should play against Baratheon more, to get a feel for their style.

Game 1: Free Folk vs Baratheon

Game 2: Free Folk vs Stark

Game 3: Free Folk vs Baratheon

After a well deserved night's sleep, we resumed our tournament the next morning refreshed and reenergized.

Game 4: Free Folk vs Lannisters

Game 5: Free Folk vs Martell

I kind of bounced back after the first day's beating, and actually managed to climb to third place. That's my bronze trophy in the picture - same as last year!

Congrats to the new national champion! We'll try to dethrone you as well, next year.

Game 5: Free Folk vs Martell

For the final scenario of the tournament, I came up against Martells in Here We Stand. Not ideal for the light desert troopers, but what can you do. I had no idea regarding the finer points of the army, so I set up on the line and decided to ball.

Game 4: Free Folk vs Lannisters

Finally, an army I actually know: the Lannisters. Also a funky game mode: A Dance with Dragons. With the pairings prepared the evening before, I spent some time agonizing over lists. I deduced that the Lannisters wouldn't take their double Turncoat no mobility infantry list into this already reduced movement scenario, so I brought forth the double Spear Thrower Giant list. I was right, with two cavalry units on the other side of the field.

Game 3: Free Folk vs Baratheon

 Game 3, A Clash of Kings, against double Thorn Watch Baratheons. Yay.

Game 2: Free Folk vs Stark

Against the Starks, I played Honed and Ready. Again like last time, but against a different player. Unlike the Baratheons, this list wasn't tailored against Giants.

Game 1: Free Folk vs Baratheon

Game 1 against the Baratheons: Fire and Blood. Ironically same as last time, although against a different player. Just one unit of Thorn Watch, which I did not mark because I have heard of them.

Painting Bullettes

Painting two adult Bullettes and one baby from the Reaper DDRPG Kickstarter.

Fixing up large elementals

I got these second hand: the water elemental made by Reaper, the other two from the Dungeons & Dragons: Temple of Elemental Evil Board Game. 

Astra Militarum vs Imperial Knights, 06.07.2026

One last try of the same Grizzled Company list. The Knights played Purge the Foe. Simple list: 5 big knights and a navigator.

Astra Militarum vs Adeptus Custodes, 02.07.2026

For variety, my second game of 11th edition was... also Priority Assets vs Disruption, but this time against Custodes. I brought the same list, with infantry on the right flank ready to take the middle, and heavy hitters on the left.

Painting a charnel grub

Another creepy crawly from the Reaper DDRPG Kickstarter.

Painting giant centipedes

The first item I've worked on from the Reaper DDRPG Kickstarter minis. Yes, I thought of the meme.

Free Folk vs Lannisters, 24.06.2026

In preparation for the Romanian Nationals, here's a training game of Honed and Ready. It's the season of giants! On the other side: Lannister double lance cavalry.

Painting 3d printed Free Folk activation markers

8 pieces, the highest number of combat activations I ever reached. 

Painting Dothraki Screamers

Apparently we're painting commission Targaryens now.

June review and July goals

Re-reading this month's goals, my motivation just went through the roof. Let's take it piece by piece.

On the RPG side, Dungeon of the Mad Mage still carries on. The return to Call of Cthulhu failed due to summer holiday intermittence; we decided on continuing our escapades into D&D5.5 instead. Triss has her work cut out for the month.

ASOIAF will see me joining the national tournament in about 2 weeks. Mag smash!

Warhammer 40k is back on track, with one game of 11th edition already under the belt and more planned within reason.

Obviously all this is subject to summer holiday nonsense... we'll see where it goes. I'm happy with the pacing so far.

Now on to miniatures. A month ago I wrote: 'I am now "behind schedule" by 188'. Apparently, I smashed the month's goals. All Cadian infantry nuns are now finished. Plastic guard vehicles are painted, magnetized and/or LED-enabled. Lots of Free Folk done, including a set of heroes, Frozen Shore Hunters, as well as a nice little zoo. And I painted some D&D minis on the side. I am now "Behind schedule" by 98. Whew.

So what is up for July? I'm already working on stuff. I started with two batches of commission minis, one for ASOIAF (in return for more guard vehicles) and one for D&D (in return for beer). Finishing both should boost numbers by a good chunk. After that, I have the usual projects to continue: Guard infantry (on to Kriegers) and vehicles (3d printed armored car and halftrack); Free Folk (bear riders); D&D minis (for extra gains). Pedal to the metal!

Astra Militarum vs Dark Angels, 23.06.2026

11th edition starts with a paintball match between friendly imperial forces. We were pretty sure that the terrain footprints were off by a bit, but who cares. I tried a new detachment: the Grizzled Company a.k.a. "I don't like to miss". The Dark Angels brought All The Plasma Ever. Well haha, my girls are T3.

The Dark Angels played "Locate and Deny" where they place a bunch of markers in terrain. I got the opposing "Extract Relic" where I must remove the markers. We got a bit over eager - no deployment pictures. I got turn 1, so have at it!

Fixing up frost giants

 Two frost giants I bought second hand, painted. Pretty well, actually; just needed some minor fixing up.

Painting a Tyranid girl

Don't judge me, it's a gift.

White bird/feathers

D&D 5.5: Big Baldur's Gate 3 energy

We were actually meant to play something else, but life happened, so we jumped into this D&D 2024 adventure instead. Excuse our hastily drawn maps and lack of miniatures. Except me, I had the pool of Lucys to draw from.

Silka the halfling rogue and Daramin the elf paladin already played the first part, where they hunted down cultists for the Flaming Fist, just before Elturel was swallowed by the Hells. Big Baldur's Gate 3 energy. I jumped in as Triss Merigold, human sorcerer - a tribute to my Baldur's Gate 3 character. 

Painting commission winged monsters

Three monsters with Contrast-based paint schemes - despite some difficulties.

Painting gnolls

Some second hand Reaper Bones gnolls: Blacktongue, Warrior and Boneflail. I initially disliked these minis due to their size - those are 50mm bases! However, they are fun to paint with not too many details. Except Boneflail with all her bone trinkets. Still, at least not too many types of texture.

Chaos Marines/Dark Angels vs Thousand Sons/Tyranids, 09.06.2026

For (probably?) the last game of 10th edition, we played a 2v2 scenario: The Relic. One objective in the middle, you can pick it up with infantry. The dice decided that Lion El'Jonson should ally with his Fallen sons against the Thousand Sons, who are probably controlling the Tyranids through warp-born sorcery. Deployment: Hammer and Anvil. 

We got first turn and moved up in the cover of ruins. Our opponents also surged forwards, putting 'gaunts on the Relic.

Winter wolf

 

Painting Gravestorm, the Dracolich

The first of my dragons to be painted this year is this old mini from the Castle Ravenloft boardgame as an adult dracolich.

Review: Baldur's Gate 3

In case you've been living under a rock these past 3 years, the best RPG ever came out in 2023. I'm sure everybody has already seen most of the cutscenes on YouTube as well as combat videos; I'll try to focus on my own special circumstances, the story and small flavorful moments.

Small arctic animals

 

Converting and painting Noble Pontifical Guard as a Krieg Command Squad

Rounding out my Papal Guard/Krieger collection, here's the command squad in the dress uniform colors of the Noble Guard.

May review and June goals

Choo choo, the time train has no breaks. May wasn't bad though. 

D&D took a hit due to external factors, but the Dungeon of the Mad Mage is still trucking on. We are scheduled to enter its next level this month.

Other RPGs also took a lesser hit, but we explored Blades in the Dark and we're scheduled to return to Call of Cthulhu, also this month.

ASOIAF is the new wargame staple, as I am more capable of transporting smaller armies and moving minis across a smaller table. But I also tried Warhammer in a smaller format, to my great delight. This should carry on during June.

As for minis, I had the new Guard vehicles delivered, and I'm getting more 3d printed. Alas, poor painting table. I am now "behind schedule" by 188. But I'm also getting ahead. Finished some ASOIAF commissions, in return for the future tanks. Finished some Guard infantry, with more WIP. This is still a big chunk of work to do, and they will overflow into June. Prepared a lot of Free Folk stuff, but the infantry is still disappointingly weak. Giants it is.

And so my goals are already set. Continue painting nuns and Kriegers. Paint the new Guard vehicles (at least the plastic ones). Paint the Free Folk heroes, so I can finally field a complete army made up of my own minis. Stretch goals: include some D&D minis for quick gains, and more Free Folk.

Converting and painting Palatine Guard as Death Korps of Krieg

Along with the rest of the Papal Palatine Guard, a proxy squad of Krieg infantrymen now join the army.

Painting a Nurgle princess

I won this model either for judging a painting competition or heading a paint-your-first-mini type event at The Guild Hall. Either case, thanks to Novac Dawn for the amazing model! She's supposed to be some sort of swamp witch - but all I can see is a delightfully chaotic nurgle-type model. I painted her as such.

17th Battle of Cluswar: A Song Of Ice & Fire: Tabletop Miniatures Game tournament

Tiny local tournament: giants edition. Everybody knew I was bringing giants, because of course I was, got to try it when my army has OP crap for the first time in history. And so everybody brought one regular list, and one tailored against giants. Also: highlander rules for units, attachments can be brought in multiples.

Game 1 vs Lannisters: who are really, really sick of fighting mythical monsters

Game 2 vs Greyjoys: precision from the back

Game 3 vs Baratheons: who just never die

Still managed a 3-0, giants are OP, and I'm completely fine with that.

Game 3: Giants vs Baratheons

Final game against the Baratheons in The Winds of Winter. Mission cards again, so I was confident. I now knew that, for the first time, I could send a unit out up front and it would hold - for a while. So, giants again.

Game 2: Giants vs Greyjoys

The second game against my old opponent: Dark Wings, Dark Words. I love objective card based games; EndRush, not so much. I made sure to manipulate the cards as much as possible.

Game 1: Giants vs Lannisters

5 objectives in Honed and Ready, but plenty of BS on the other side, including Kingsguard, Honour Guard, lance cavalry. I decided to skip dancing around with the zoo and try out the giants.

Painting Unsullied Pikemen

First ASOIAF commission since the happening.

Blades in the Dark: An RPG where everybody is a criminal

Yep, the title says it all.

Polar bear

 

Chaos Marines vs Thousand Sons vs Tyranids vs Aeldari, 12.05.2026

My first game of Warhammer 40,000 since the happening, CARNAGE! a.k.a. Triumph and Treachery 40k edition. I proposed a chaos versus xenos alliance, and everybody just rolled with it.

I went first which I definitely did not want, so I hid and hoped my ally wouldn't betray me. The Tyranids went forth to assault the Thousand Sons but got a bloody nose.

The Wraithknight shot my Rhino, and left it at 1 wound.

Dungeon of the Mad Mage: Angel of Death

Having allied with Ezzat, the adventurers descended to level 21, into a maze of caverns, with tracks lining the floor. Taking a direction at random, they reached a duergar forge. Groin stepped in first, and the duergar greeted him in Dwarfish, telling him where to find the boss. After talking to a guard, then a captain, the party was led to a duergar prince. Valtagar told the story of his people slaughtered and enslaved by a mad angel dwelling here, and enlisted the adventurers against it.

Painting Field Ordnance - Heavy lascannons

The final missing variant of the Field Ordnance Batteries. 

April review and May goals

May the 4th be with you! Wield lightsabers instead of crutches.

April passed and I can't complain. I eased back into doing live D&D sessions, tried a new RPG, and went to some games of ASOIAF. No Warhammer as of yet, transporting minis is a pain. Probably none this month either, but I'll try my best.

With live games and painting back on the table, and of course work taking up most of the day, video games have slowed down to their usual trickle. I might do a review or two in the future, but for now, this is it.

Speaking of painting, I threw myself at it like a man dying of thirst. Which I was, metaphorically speaking. But everything is annoying, besides the sitting part. I barely finished my April goals, there's a couple of final touches left. 

As for this month, my painting/accounting table looks even worse, with the delivery of the Reaper Miniatures' latest Kickstarter. With the advent of 3d printing, I really wouldn't have ordered all this stuff; but that was then, this is now. And anyways, most of it is 3d printed already. Kind of disappointing. Good quality though, we'll see about durability.

I'll see what I can do during May. I have some ASOIAF commissions scheduled; I want to continue and finish my Warhammer guard infantry; and ASOIAF Free Folk look rather enticing with the advent of season 7. Who knows, maybe they'll be good for something.

Martell vs Targaryen, 01.05.2026

For the final game of season 6, I tried out a new faction: these beautifully painted Martells. Good job, my man Patrick. My opponent, as always, is EndRush, in this game of Dark Wings Dark Words.

Painting WizKids monsters: anis hag, ankheg, yuan ti abomination

 A trio of larger models, all with Contrast-based paintjobs.

Painting commission blue wizards

First commission work of the year, started before my accident. Photos are thus a bit jumbled. The minis are: this flameweaver, this old man, this young mage and unknown bearded guy.

Converting and painting Free Folk heroes

I already like the minis so no major conversions. Also slapchop isn't good enough for them.

Painting trolls

I already got two of these models;  now I'm just making sure I never need any trolls again. The 4 armed version is a conversion by someone else; too bad it wasn't ready for its appearance in Dungeon of the Mad Mage.

16th Battle of Cluswar: A Song Of Ice & Fire: Tabletop Miniatures Game tournament

For my first wargaming outing since the happening, I dove straight into a small local tournament. I got transported to and from, sat most of the time with my legs propped up... it wasn't completely fine, but it was great nonetheless.

Game 1 vs Targaryens. I had little hope with giants against dragons, but I managed to eke out a minor victory.

Game 2 vs Lannisters. I had little hope against my experienced opponent playing his favorite army, but I managed to eke out a victory.

Game 3 vs Starks. I was riding the high of my previous win, but, you might be seeing a pattern here, I had little hope against double Tully cavalry deployed in my face. Once again, I managed to eke out a victory.

Accidental tournament winner...?!

Game 3: Free Folk vs Starks

Game 3 of Banners and Butchery against double Tully cavalry. My opponent was obviously going to pick this one with the close deployment and needing attack actions on objectives. I picked the giants, knowing that double cavalry would just mow down my zoo. I haven't played against the Starks in a while, so a bit of trepidation. Beware the Assault Orders.

Obviously the Starks deployed on the line, with one unit of cavalry in Outflank. I placed the Giant Spear Thrower on my objective, but already I felt it went too far ahead. I protected the other objective with spikes. One giant on the far left to score some cheeky points.

Game 2: Free Folk vs Lannisters

Game 2 against my eternal opponent and his High Sparrow led infantry blocks. In A Game of Thrones, the choice of Varamyr's zoo in support of Mag's giants was obvious.

Game 1: Free Folk vs Targaryens

Game 1 versus dragons. Appropriately, A Dance with Dragons. I picked my giants list, because dragons autokill Varamyr's zoo. Sigh.

Review: Space Marine 2

Titus is back! Once again, this game does what few do: completely capture the atmosphere of what it is trying to do. You don't play as a space marine. You ARE a space marine. All the environs are perfect. You only ever talk about courage and honor. You never sneak: your boots thud on the ground with each step. Immersion: here I come!

Review: Total War: Shogun 2

I know it's an old one... but at the time my PC wasn't good enough for it. I played a lot of the original Total War: Shogun, so I'm not going to miss this one. Sengoku Jidai, here we go!

Wooden floor

Review: Necromunda: Hired Gun

Welcome to janky looter shooter town, now with no inventory management! The game is really fun though. 

Review: Horizon: Forbidden West

Remember my gushing review of the first installment? Yep, it's happening again. Only this time, it took even longer. I started my playthrough August 2025 and finished February 2026.