Brotherhood... What, Hardboyz Now?

So here's the Brotherhood... but I no sooner finish than I'm back at it.  This army is fun, but it doesn't have the necessary streamlining to compete at the highest levels.  I need more options!  My plan is to fill out the Grey Hunters to full 10-strong squads, then add more!  More mech, more Troops, Thunder Wolves, and so on.

Hard Boyz is around the corner - I've got 500 more points to fill, minimum.

Comments Come Lately: Brent's a Bigot?

This is from my Tuesday article on Bell of Lost Souls.  In it I feature a video of my 4-year old nephew painting his first model - that's what Hendarion is referring to in the opening salvo.   It gets ugly and unnecessary.

Note Scadugenga brings up the same topic, sans threat of physical violence, and we have what I believe is a rational and interesting conversation.  I only included part of it, nor did I include some other readers' contributions, but it's all available in the comment's section of the article.  Anyway, read it and weep.

Goatboy Vs Brent, Extra Pics

Here are some extra photos from my game with Goatboy last weekend, so if you haven't seen the Video Battle Report over on Bell of Lost Souls... what are you waiting for?

I liked Goat's army a lot - it's really one of the few builds I've seen that I believe maximizes some of the most annoying characteristics of the book!

Happy Birthday to Me... *sigh*

I took the afternoon off to play Confrontation with Little Barrera - I just couldn't stand the idea of working all day on my birthday.

I'm officially *SELF-EDIT*  (Old.)

I'm on my way out now, but I thought I'd drop my birthday present to myself.  The timing was good; Fedex knocked on my door this morning right before I took off for work.

I don't know why, but I was ridiculously taken with these, so picked up one of each on preorder...

Oh Great Dice Gawd, 
Has Thy (un)Faithful Servant Purchased Enough?

OffTopical Production Video (Rated R for Language)

Behind the scenes at OffTopical Podcast's Secret Studio

WARNING: Potty Language, Crude Humor  (Which is the only way I like it.)

A few posts back, I talked about OffTopical, so when I published this video I figured it was high time to drop it on an unsuspecting wargaming public.  This is pertinent, though, since OffTopical is awesome listening during painting sessions.  The humor is Off and the skits are Topical - plus Top Dork makes for interesting trivia in categories you no doubt like too.

Basically, I took this footage during the production of Episode 17, Leftovers.  The studio is usually kept dark, so it came out a bit grainy... and let's face it, the camera should have been set on a stand somewhere, but you get the idea.

In this skit, Sam Elliot and Samuel L. Jackson are promoting Weiner Pills.

Enjoy or not, your option!

Even When I'm Not Blogging... I Am

I'm not bored of blogging, I'm in a funk about gaming!

(Before Brent gets all whiny, you guys should really check out The Master Manipulator (every store needs one)'s Top Ten.  The dude has worked a blog for a year now... and who thought it would last six months?  Not this Green With Envy Topical Figmental.  Here's to another year!)

Still, even when I'm not blogging I'm blogging.  Tuesday's Bell article was pretty darn good, if I do say so myself:

Editorial: White Dwarf, or Not, Your Option

As of this moment, it hit 323 comments - and no, Louis, they weren't all me!

What Is OffTopical?

I've had the icon and link in my Glory Bar on the righthand side of Strictly Average, but I can't recall ever mentioning it.  It's not related to the hobby, so I haven't pushed it.

OffTopical is a podcast dedicated topical conversation, glorious geekery, and crude humor.  It's designed to follow a (relatively) fixed format and (hopefully) move along quickly.  If you happen not to like a segment... just relax and let it happen.

It'll be over soon.

It goes a little something like this:

Top X: Me and My Lauby

I have to say, Lauby from Lauby Industries and the House of Paincakes knows what it takes to make me a very happy man.

Massive WarGames Con Photo-DUMP!! Ewwww...

Thanks to everyone who commented and emailed regarding my illness-inspired return home; I'm almost to the point I can think about the weekend without breaking down into (very masculine) (not really) tears.

*sigh*

Not really, I'm still upset.  There were a ton of Bloggers I was looking forward to meeting and it just didn't happen.

My coverage suffered too.  I got a great start, including the photos I'm about to drop that on you, but I thought I'd take a moment and link the Hogs of War.  They run a great blog, and it turns out they were in Austin in force - as evidenced by the amazing, ground-up coverage!  A smaller blog, The 19th Legion, managed to turn out videos.  Cheers to him for the initiative!

Without further ado...

Oh Unhappy, Aborted Trip!

Man, do I look forward to Wargames Con!  It's by far my favorite Indy; it's competitive and well-run while still maintaining its laid back, Texas courtesy.

Also, I get to hang out with the BoLS crowd and meet fellow Bloggers face to face.  As our community grows, so does name recognition... making me happier than ever I go by 'Brent.'

Just so you know, it's not a clever, internet nickname - it's my name.  Brent.

There you go.

WarGames Con Countdown...

...will I make it or no?

Sunday, Oh Sund - Wait... What? It's Monday?

Here I am again, dropping an update in passing.  The Rune Casters are as done as I have the time for; there's plenty of room for improvements and extras I want to add - like... you know, runes - but it's enough for now.

Saturday, Oh Saturday, a Deadline I Have...

I'll be leaving next Thursday for Austin, and Wargames Con.  Will the Brotherhood be prepared in time?

Damn well better, after all this!

Brotherhood Hunters Squad Done

Except for a few moderate touchups, I'm happy with the tabletop quality of the first Troops choice for my Brotherhood HoganWing army.  Less than two weeks - will I make it?

Running a 2500pt Tournament, Part One

I had my first experience with running a tournament this last Saturday.  In brief, our local TO wasn't available and it looked like the event was going to get cancelled... and given there were only six people or so scheduled to show, I'll admit it wouldn't have bothered me much.

Still, there were a few vocal locals (heh!) who were disappointed, so the owner decided to push forward himself.  I was asked to, "be available for rules questions, if it comes to that" since all the people who would have been asked ahead of me weren't available.  Six people?  No problem!

Suffice it to say, I learned the night before there was something like 16 registered players, almost all from out of town.  A quick change of plans later and I'm bring 'Daemons Light' to fill in if there's an odd number of players, but otherwise I'm playing judge.

A Productive Weekend

From the hand of the Mighty Mighty Carlos.

Dread Knight: 'Nuff Said

EDIT: Okay, I guess it's not enough said: this model showed up at the FLGS tournament yesterday. It's ain't mine.


...


Though I can see why you'd think it is... :)

Comments Come Lately: Hard to Swallow

Ah, yet another edition of Comments Come Lately, and as is usual, this one is lifted from Tuesday's Bell of Lost Soul's article: Beating a Dead Horse's Potty Mouth Off At Me, Please

I'd say it's a classic, but a class 'what' would be the question.

Vossl and I exchange pleasantries, and I'm sure I've won a new fan!

I Forgot the Recipe!

The discerning reader... scratch that.

You may have noticed... scratch that, too.

It's time for me to admit to you, the audience... scratch that.  Crap.

Okay, let's try one more time.

I FORGOT THE RECIPE FOR BROTHERHOOD GOLD!

(There, I said it.  Darn it all.)

Attending a Funeral and Attendant Thoughts

The funeral was in the afternoon yesterday, and though I didn't know the deceased well at all, his brothers are two I count among my oldest friends in Texas.

I'm including examples of their work, just to break up my rambling words!

Brotherhood Update: The Rune Priests

Okay, so I believe I've finished putting together all the models for my 2K Brotherhood list.  It's a Loga... er.., Drogan?  Hogan?

What the heck should I name my Counts-As Logan?

(Missing a Storm Bolter there, aren't you?)

Brotherhood Update: Troops on the Table, Part II

I'm finished putting together the 2nd Grey Hunters squad and all three Long Fangs.  (I haven't put thought into suitable 'Brotherhood' versions of Space Wolf titles.)

Most of these are still on the paint stick, where they'll stay until the primary color has been applied, that is until they're all Brotherhood Gold; point is, it makes it difficult to take pictures!  Also note there is still some minor fixes and mold lines to hit.

The overarching theme of the Brotherhood is that of disparate Warbands led by Champions.  Each squad has its own unique look in the army; that's obvious if you compare this squad to the one I posted yesterday.

Brotherhood Update: Troops on the Table

Despite a busy weekend, I managed to fit in a ton of time on the Brotherhood.  Today's pictures are the squad I put together on Friday... before a rare squabble with my lovely and long-suffering wife led to missing my regular game night.

That's on me.  I stormed off and lay down for a bit, just to cool off...

Embracing Basing

Well, who saw this coming?

After reading the comments from my basing article I'd have to say, well, everyone but me, I suppose.

I was happy with my quick and easy flocking, but much like anything quick and easy...

(a certain ex-wife)

...the crap you get afterward means it just ain't worth it!  :)

I decided to take the leap into a more advanced basing technique.  Here was my purchase at the store earlier this week.

Rule #24 for Stalking an Internet Personality

Brent's Rule for Blogosphere Stalking #24:  The Net-Stalker should work to achieve respectability by choosing activities allowing him or her appropriate social access to the Net-Stalkee.

...

So, having violated Rule #7 (don't violate a restraining order; instead assume an air of righteous indignation) by ruining the Jawa-garden with my supposedly unidentifiable boots, I had to rethink my options.

To that end, I began Brent's Strictly Average Painting Guide; the second installment hit The Blood Angels: by Jawaballs this week!  Brent's Strictly Average Painting: Inquisitor

Comments Come Lately: Mr. Sensitive

The occasional 'doh-I-poked--the-sleeping-troll' article happens on Bell sometimes - there are a ton of active participants and many times that more readers, so surprises happen.  Usually they're good enough for at least one really inept personal attack.  This dude has three names, much like a serial killer.

Because mouth-breathing is also a serial crime.

A Question on Basing Models...

So I dropped a 15-minute miniature the other day and got some feedback on the base.  Feedback in, "Dude, that sucks!"  So in an attempt to shore up a weakness, I experimented with a few models last night.  Let me know what you think.

Static grass on basic rock; contrasting.

Goodbye Evil Homer

So here we are, and this is 'goodbye' good luck to Evil Homer!  Yes indeed, our local, cuddly Ruiner of Fun has rejoined his family in Austin after staying here a few extra months to finish out the school year at his job.

The portrait I did for Evil Homer, which is a antique looking Homer I modified so it's 'evil.'  I don't think he ever actually liked it though!

The 15-Minute Miniature

I finished the 2nd model for my (very) infrequent painting series on Blood Angels by Jawaballs, a Witch Hunter Inquisitor.  I try to stretch my painting wings in that series and master some of the brush techniques practiced by experienced painters.  It's fair to say I'm having mixed success, since what was supposed to be my second model in the series was my light-sourced Dark Eldar Archon...

That didn't work out so well.

Sin Synn Asks, "What about the Bugs!?"

Ah, SinSynn!  Deeply disappointed, he crafted this gem regarding my decision to set aside the Bugs! for the Brotherhood.

Btw, Brent- I cannot begin to express my disappointment of you dropping Tyranids to play....Space Wolves.

I am disappoint.
I haz sad....deep, deep sad.
:(

If ANYBODY could've helped Tyranids gain a popularity point, it would've been you, Brent.
This hurts....