With the changes to the Imperial Guard codex I needed 60mm round bases to properly update my heavy weapons teams. GW sells three plastic 60mm bases for $4.50, not a good option for my six infantry squads plus five heavy weapons squads coming to around $30. EmperorsWrath suggested trying plywood bases from Litko Aerosystems. They produce a wide range of bases and gaming accessories. Their bases are made from a number of materials and thicknesses, while most of the gaming accessories are made from acrylic.
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Review: Litko Aerosystems 60mm Round Bases
Inside the Hobbyist’s Studio: Magnetic Movement Trays
Previously Inside the Hobbyist’s Studio, I showed how I approach magnetizing my bases. Today’s article will continue in this theme and I will show how I currently am producing magnetic movement trays.
Magnetic bases and movement trays are very useful to keep “unit cohesion” when moving a unit across the battlefield. Not having to constantly stand models back up that have tipped over is great. And let’s not forget those situation when your unit of beautifully painted but metal minis stops on the slope of a hill and they all want to slide into a pile of bent lances and chipped paint. Also, if the minis are stuck tight to their trays, the trays themselves can be part of how to store them for transit. Instead of plucking each mini out of a foam nook before each game and then having to place them back in, wouldn’t it be a great time saver — as well as way cool — to be able to just lift movement tray full of already ranked troops out of your movement case?
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Strategic Assets: Tunnels Part Two – Hill with Culvert
Another easy-to-make Apocalypse Strategic Assets guide from EmperorsWrath! This guide provides instruction to create one type of tunnel, the sloped hill with man-made culvert opening.
When thinking about how to create some tunnels for Apocalypse battles I figured I needed some variety. I would like some to be natural, some man-made, and some a combination of the two. The Tunnels Strategic Asset says you get D6+3 tunnels, so I needed to make nine different models. I have already posted a guide to create the easiest type to make: Caves.
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Strategic Assets: Tunnels Part One – Caves
Another easy-to-make Apocalypse Strategic Assets guide from EmperorsWrath! This guide provides instruction to create one type of tunnel, the cave mouth opening.
When thinking about how to create some tunnels for Apocalypse battles I figured I needed some variety. I would like some to be natural, some man-made, and some a combination of the two. The Tunnels Strategic Asset says you get D6+3 tunnels, so I needed to make nine different models. I started with what is in my opinion the easiest type to make, basically the cave is just a variant of the Rock Outcroppings that I have previously created.
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Strategic Assets: Minefields
Another easy-to-make Apocalypse Strategic Assets guide from EmperorsWrath! This guide is an extremely simple way to create markers that can be used to define where your minefields are.
When thinking about how to create a minefield I carefully read the description on page 188 of the Apocalypse rulebook. The minefield is six inches wide and thirty-six inches long, but can be a single minefield or two eighteen inch fields or three twelve inch fields. At this point I could see three issues:
1.) Size: I definitely did not want to have to build that many, not to mention the difficulty in storing and transporting a three foot long minefield.
2.) Material: what would the representation of the minefield look like? Given that any army can take minefields they would look different depending on who created them. Again, too many possibilities.
3.) Layout: if I created static rectangular minefields then they would have to be placed only on level terrain and could never go over a hill or into any other type of terrain.
The solution to these problems was to create signs to mark off the boundaries of the minefield. Only twelve were needed to fully represent one, two, or three minefields. One sign in each corner does the trick.
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Terrain Guide: Rok ‘Em Boyz Apocalypse Template
Our next article is a combo modelling / terrain guide for creating something to put on the table to represent the results of the Ork Rok ‘Em Boyz Strategic Asset from the Apocalypse Reload book. While not really required to play the asset, I think it will add a lot to the game. If units get squashed by Strength D Roks the physical representation of the crater and Rok are a nice visual reminder.
Thumbing through the various GW books can provide ideas from both the text and the pictures. I would like to eventually create all of the various Strategic Assets that require actual tabletop pieces. I have a couple of bunkers done, but need four more to complete that choice. I have created minefield signs to mark the outside edge of a minefield. Obstacles are also a good choices to create since they can be used in normal sized 40K games as well.
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Terrain Guide: Styrofoam Cacti
Another easy-to-make terrain guide from EmperorsWrath! Previously I reviewed and wrote a modelling guide for the Pegasus Hobbies plastic cacti. Those cacti might not be your cup of tea given that they are very small. Maybe you’d like something a little more imposing on your battlefield, but still easy to create and also inexpensive. If so, then this guide is for you!
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Terrain Guide: Difficult Ground
My latest terrain project has been to create some rough areas of loose stones for use as difficult ground for my desert terrain. This is one of the types of terrain that I have never had, regardless of terrain theme, woodland or desert. I have some sand dunes that I made years ago, but they are too steep to place miniatures so really only work as impassable terrain and blocking line of sight. I really needed some defined areas that were obviously difficult ground at a quick glance but they needed to be playable enough to allow models of various bases sizes to stand without problems.
These areas of rough ground will really add some needed variety to the table, and as an extension, the game. Different tactical choices will have to be made when these areas are on the battlefield since they slow down assault troops, but offer no cover.
Ok, enough chit-chat, let’s get right to the guide!
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About my Imperial Guard: Part 3 – Hardened Veterans
I worked all weekend and I completed a new addition to my Imperial Guard army, a squad of Hardened Veterans. Here is a picture of the sergeant (more pictures at the end):
As you can see I used Catachan jungle fighter models from second edition 40k to represent my hardened Veterans. This will make them fit in nicely with my army which is built around second edition 40k Cadian models (pictures here).
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A Tale of Five or Six Gamers – Part 2
Arjac Rockfist here, thought I’d take the time to report on how the boys gaming group has been faring.
ADAM
Adam’s moving along, picked a new paint scheme, still debating the name of his chapter, he’s picked up another Assault squad in order to make his a full 10 man squad.
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