Dark Heresy Imminent

Two thumbs waaay up for Dark Heresy.

I have some extra books. Cost is $50 plus $10 ship. Some have slight imperfections (like a scrunched corner-- from shipping). I give $5 off for those.

We'll be playing at 3pm to 6pm tomorrow so I'll be completely, completely incommunicado.

However, I'll be doing my regular thing from 10am to 2pm. So, if you need anything please feel free to give me a call.

Thursday February 27 2008

Picture: Empire Captain on a Griffon. This army was done with Artistic License with a L3/5 split (L3 for everything except L5 for heroes). The Painter chose to do the models in Nuln color scheme.
See the assembled host.
Hear the army details.

Today I was up again at 5am. Wide awake and worried. I got an email from a client asking if I ever went to sleep. Usually quite well, just some extra stress recently.

I stayed home this morning with Griffin while my wife ran errands. Then I headed up to Provo for some business plus translating at the MTC. I'm actually getting better. It is very hard to listen and speak at the same time, and keep up with a very fast talker.

Then back to the studio for a few hours this evening. Nothing to report. Other than documenting the huge-normous Empire Nuln army.

Wednesday February 27 2008

Picture: a squadron of Eldar War Walkers, part of this Biel Tan army. This is our wargamer standard L3 work (L5 for hero types).

I was wide awake and worried at 5am this morning. So, I just got cracking on the ole Inbox which I was caught up on as of 8am.

Then it was off to a conference at the school for my daughter. That turned out well.

The following projects are under the brush and should be done in the next 5-10 days. If you are wondering what's up with your project, just drop me a line and I'll get right on it.
Ice Nids 01 JA
Tzeentch 02 JS
Empire 01 RH er
Fictional Reality 03 MT
Tau 02 MN
Vampires 02 DF
Chaos Flyers 01 FC
Orcs and Goblins 01 KO
Witch Hunters 01 RH
Grey Knights 01 AS
High Elves 03 CA
Skaven and Guard 01 TL
Tyranids 04 JC
Trollbloods 01 CS

The following projects are in Assembly this week:
Eldar 02 PM
Falcons 02 MN
War Machine 06 BF er
Eldar 01 GS (ongoing thing)
Fictional Reality 03 MT
Ultramarines 05 TO
Tau 07 TO
Vampire Counts 01 PB vorador
Daemonhunters 01 RK
Orcs and Goblins 01 KO
Hordes 05 JL

Imperial Guard vs. Tyranids Battle Report

Some Quotes

“One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.” —Plato

When they call the roll in the Senate, the senators do not know whether to answer ‘present’ or ‘guilty’.” —Theodore Roosevelt

“Hope must be grounded in objective truth otherwise it quickly becomes wishful thinking.” —Cal Thomas

All Caught Up

All right folks, the tide has lowered. Not busy. Also, there'll be a Batrep up tomorrow morning.

I didn't give my usual "Sunday Devotional" but as I pulled up into the driveway tonight, this passage was impressed on my mind:

"While one portion of the human race is judging and condemning the other without mercy, the Great Parent of the universe looks upon the whole of the human family with a fatherly care and paternal regard; He views them as His offspring, and without any of those contracted feelings that influence the children of men, causes 'His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." -- Joseph Smith

I just looked up at the sky and felt a moment of peace.

Soulgrinder

Hey all, I came across this on http://www.warseer.com/ Supposedly it's a new Defiler type called the Soulgrinder supposedly due out with the new Chaos Codices coming up this year.

Flesh Hounds, pic also lifted from Warseer.

Bloodcrusher (bloodletter on juggernaut)

In fact, there are a TON of pics on this thread. This blew my mind.

http://warseer.com/forums/40k-rumour-roundup/128328-codex-daemonica.html

Props for L2 Skaven

Hey Shawn - just a quick note - thanks for all of the work on my Skaven army. The miniatures were extremely well-packed and you have been great about communicating - It seems like you treated my figures as well as you would have treated your own and I really appreciate that.

To be honest, when I first unpacked my miniatures, I wasn't that excited by them, but I took them to the hobby store this week to play a game and I have to say, once they were all ranked up and together, they really do look very good (props to Patrick) - I received many comments from others who were equally impressed as well (I provided suitable plugs for your studio and reminded myself and everyone that as good as my guys look, this only represented your level 2 work).

Bottom-line - this is just what I wanted - turning a huge collection of unpainted and primered models into a nice looking army I can go play with. Overall, I'm very satisfied with the experience, and I'm looking forward to having you do my next army as well (dark Elves in August), or even a smaller project sooner, if one comes to mind.

Thanks again. - Todd

Manic Monday

Hey all. Just a note to you adoring BTP fans ...

It's Monday and I'm hammered. So please be patient while I play catchup. That said, by all means ping me if you have a pressing matter. I don't want anyone to feel like I'm being inattentive. I've got my Bluetooth in if you have a short matter.

I am prioritizing the following:

• people who need to pay me (yah-essss-ah),
• people who are setting up a commission,
• people who need something ordered to get their project started (today is the ordering day), AND
• people who need their package to get out (my wife is coming in tonight to pack up all the packages, they will be sent out tomorrow).

Saturday February 22 2008

Picture: a Trygon for the Roach Nids-- a personal army.

First off: I'm a little behind on my emails. I'm really sorry about that. I will catch up on Monday. Call me Monday morning if you have a pressing matter I will be happy to take care of you!

.

The battle report is done. But not posted, possibly until late Monday. Sorry, but you'll have to wait! The good news is that we had someone skilled in the digital arts take the footage and work on it.

Today was quite eventful. It began at around 8am with the alarm going off in the kids' room, but they are sleeping in another room so I have to get up and shut it off. I splurged on some breakfast at the local Magleby's and then swung by the Post Office to send out about six projects.

Today was Paint Fest. We had a good turnout, about eight people all told, including a few "friends of the studio". A good time was had by all and we were down here for nearly eleven hours.

We also shot a 1000 point battle report with my Guard army against a mini Nid-zilla. My opponent had the new Imperial Armor Apocalypse book which is amazing and only costs like $45.

It is right now about 10:30pm and I really need to get home.

.

One last note: if you think this might be the life for you, please drop me a line. You can actually move out here and make a living out of it. I've had a number of people do so successfully. There are challenges, but with drive and a lot of hard work, you can take off. I don't plan on building Blue Table to much past around ten people, and I would just as soon keep the same solid crew and keep getting better and better over the course of ten/twenty/more years. Grow with the company and all that.

Lions Rampant Imperial Guard List for Battle Report

1000 Pts - Imperial Guard Roster - Lions Rampant

HQ: Command Platoon (17#, 372 Pts)
0 Command Platoon @ 372 Pts
0 Tarantula and Crew (6) @ [112] Pts
Carapace Armour
1 Junior Officer @ [52] Pts
Carapace Armour; Surveyor; Plasma Pistol
1 Surveyor @ [2] Pts
4 Guardsmen @ [40] Pts
Carapace Armour; Plasmagun (x4)
6 Anti-Tank Squad @ [130] Pts
Carapace Armour; Lasgun (x3); Lascannon (x3)
6 Anti-Tank Squad @ [130] Pts
Carapace Armour; Lasgun (x3); Lascannon (x3)

Troops: Grenadiers (11#, 227 Pts)
9 Grenadiers @ 227 Pts
Hellgun w/targeter (x7); Plasmagun (x2); Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Chimera
1 Sergeant @ [10] Pts
Close Combat Weapon; Plasma Pistol; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades
1 Chimera @ [107] Pts
Pintle Heavy Stubber; Track Guards; Multilaser; Hull Heavy Bolter
1 Pintle Heavy Stubber @ [12] Pts
1 Track Guards @ [10] Pts

Troops: Grenadiers (11#, 227 Pts)
9 Grenadiers @ 227 Pts
Hellgun w/targeter (x7); Meltagun (x2); Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Chimera
1 Sergeant @ [10] Pts
Close Combat Weapon; Hellpistol; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades
1 Chimera @ [107] Pts
Pintle Heavy Stubber; Track Guards; Multilaser; Hull Heavy Bolter
1 Pintle Heavy Stubber @ [12] Pts
1 Track Guards @ [10] Pts

Fast Attack: Sentinel Squadron (1#, 70 Pts)
0 Sentinel Squadron @ 70 Pts
1 Sentinel @ [70] Pts
Armoured Crew Compartment; Lascannon (x1)
1 Armoured Crew Compartment @ [15] Pts

Fast Attack: Sentinel Squadron (1#, 70 Pts)
0 Sentinel Squadron @ 70 Pts
1 Sentinel @ [70] Pts
Armoured Crew Compartment; Lascannon (x1)
1 Armoured Crew Compartment @ [15] Pts

Total Roster Cost: 966

Created with Army Builder
Copyright (c) 1997-2005 Lone Wolf Development, Inc. All rights reserved.

Saturday February 22 2008

It's Paint Fest day and we had seven people all painting down at the studio. I shot a couple vids of that.

We're gearing up for a Battle Report tonight. It won't be up until later tonight, maybe as late as Monday.

Roach Nids vs. Lions Rampant 1000 pts.

Get in da mood with this inspirational music.

I shot quite a bit of footage of the Dark Heresy game, but editing and splicing that it low on the priorities list. Let's just say it was disturbing and had everyone thinking about it afterwards. What happens when a normal family, on a farm, on a paradise world is corrupted by chaos? The last band of acolytes didn't do their job, and were merciful, and now a whole town has to be burned to the ground. It was grim. It was dark.

More to come.

Session in Progress

From 11am to 2pm on Friday, February 21 we'll be in session for Dark Heresy and my phone will be off. That's Mountain Time

Dark Heresy Session 01 Prologue

[This is a pre-game warmup done on our Dark Heresy newsgroup-- as some of you may know I have started a Dark Heresy campaign that will have woven in our battle reports]

As you speed over the aquamarine waters of Reth, islands rise and disappear. They are little more than an amorphous shape of white sand surrounding a thick central mass of trees that look like dark green clouds.

The sky above is a brilliant green pale green, like a thin sheet of malachite. The sun is large and diffuse, as if a great lamp were held behind a sheet of glass. The Aquila lander rattles gently. The air is acrid and smells of worn military equipment.

Since Inquisitor Burrow summoned you on board the Wanderlust, showed you his inquisitorial signet, and pressed you into service, he has not spoken at all. Now, he comes out of reverie, tilting his wide-brim hat back so youc an see his black eyes.

With a casual motion of his hand he bids youlook out the window.

"See there, we're coming up on Altalemu now. There are about five hundred souls on that island. They live in paradaisical conditions; no enemies, plenty of food, good health, long life, and mild summer year round.

"They do not know the horrors that lurk just out of sight. They do not know that billions of souls labor on dreary forge worlds day and night to buy their security with steel and blood.

"Is this the pinnacle of man? Is a life of ease what we should aspire to? Is this what we seek? If the enemies of the Imperium were to disappear tomorrow, should we all live on worlds such as this?

"Answer, if you can."

1
Rocking slightly in his seat, Barbosa Callidon ceases his mutteringlong enough to answer: "As a light will invariably create a shadow, sotoo does the happiness of these people cause suffering to otherselsewhere. Such a life, while enjoyable, is not the stuff of theImperium. All must give as they are able, and take as they require.These people take everything they want and need from others, and givelittle in return.”

2
"Don't make no diferece to me either way Lord" As Stygga diggs in her ear."I'm at home any where you send me"
"Gime my 'Vera' (Auto gun) and some shells. Point me at the Gits. Yousays who gets it. I make em lay down, for ever"
"Sounds like a good lot to me lord"

3
Preacher Mirsad's face twists into disgusted scowl at Barbosa's typically'psyker' answer."Always speaking in riddles..." he thinks to himself. He tightens his grip onhis war hammer and replies in a voice that fills the cabin..."It is not given to men that they should take as they desire. Only the ImmortalEmperor, blessed be his name, has the right to take. All others must do as he willsthem. His will is that men must be made strong through war, hunger, and trials. There are nocivilians in the battle for survival. All those who will not fight become the enemies of Him OnEarth."Mirsad pulls out his Aquila necklace and touches each bead in turn as he mumblesthe Emperor's Divine Works softly to himself.

4
Busy thoroughly servicing his lasgun, Kaltos glances up to reply. “AllI need is my trusty lasgun a couple charge packs and something to shootat.......but if you ask me these people live a life of blindignorance. There’s always going to be a conflict whether its a greatbeast or a Tyranid hive fleet.”“But I must be here for a reason or you wouldent have asked for myservices.”

"Ultra" Compliment

Hi Shawn,

My Ultramarines army arrived this week. All is well. I'm very happy the result to say the least. Everything looks great! The true test will be getting the stuff on the table of course. It really was worthwhile to just bypass the time I'd have spent painting all these models - very much worth every penny.

Also, thanks for your pleasant demeanor and service. I will definitely be adding to this army, and I will definitely be using Blue Table Painting to do that. My whole experience with you was seamless, and the results were even better than expected.

Kind regards and fun gaming to you and your able crew,
Jay Dickinson
San Francisco, CA

Wednesday February 20 2008

Picture: Ultramarines Assault Squads. L3. This is part of an entire company we're painting for a client. He does about two or three units a month. There is no reason that anyone who can afford this hobby at all can't get an army painted at least once a year. I mean, how many guys to you know with three armies in the garage still in boxes, but still come to the game shop with "the horde from white primer mountain." Another funny one is the guy that's too almighty to have someone else paint his figures, but month after month they show up with an army with just one single unit painted to a glorious standard. Of course, naturally I don't like that guy!!!

Anyway, I got up bright and early this morning. We have pulled our daughter out of public school and now have a tutor coming to help her while we sort things out. She is greatly relieved.

This week, and for the next few weeks, I have pairs of old and new painters rotating through the studio so that there will be a transfer of knowledge. It's really a wondrous thing. I'm still learning new things. I mean, Joseph practically re-invented miniature painting... or at least he hybridized two very different techniques.

The following projects are under the brush as of this week and are due to be completed in the next 5-10 days (a few of the larger ones might take up to 14 days from today).

• Bretonnians 01 JE


• Empire 01 RH


• Witch Hunters 01 RH


• Road Warrior Orcs 01 RT


• Skaven and Guard 01 TL (might be up to 14 days)


• Biel Tan 02 AS (almost done)


• War Machine 01 JB

The following projects are in Assembly this cycle:

• Tzeentch 02 JS bf


• Ice Nids 01 JA


• Chaos Flyers 01 FC ni


• Tyranids 04 JC


• Menoth 12 GQ


• Eldar 01 GS

I am hoping to get in the following projects really soon. If this is your project I'd love to hear from you!

• Vampires 02 DF


• Valhallans 01 VF er


• Hordes 05 JL bf


• Fictional Reality 03 MT er

I'm hoping to catch them up for next week's painting cycle.

What else? We're all gearing up for the Dark Heresy game this Friday.

Oh, and Batrep fans rejoice. We're doing on this Friday!

Aaaaand the Paint Fest this Saturday.

I'm trying to drop some LBs, the first time in my life I've been worried about weight and health. I'm turning 39 soon.

I left the studio around 9:00pm and I made this little 360.

When I got home the kids were already in bed. I was disappointed but it's my own fault for not working faster today. I downed a subway sandwich and a 1/4 litre of root beer on the way home, so no dinner. I'm finishing up an episode of Scrubs then it's off to bed.

Ah, and I still have some slots open in mid-March. I'd really like to get all of March set up before the end of February (in eight days).

Tuesday February 19 2008

Picture: Trygon by Forge World. This is an addition to the infamous "Salsa Verde Nids". See the other pics here.

I am so insanely tired. That's all I have to say. As usual, today was very, very busy.

So, I will talk to you all tomorrow.

Monday February 18 2008

Picture: a Tau battlesuit. See the rest here.

I was up at 2:30am this morning, and couldn't get back to sleep, so I caught up on Scrubs and got to work on the ole inbox. I went back to sleep at about 4:30am and slept until the family started stirring about 8:00am. I hurried down the studio where I left my car over the weekend. Icicles had formed on the underside, and were so long as to reach the ground like frozen pillars.

The winter is long and bitter. I've never longed for summer before.

The following projects were finished today, and pics are up:

• Tau 04 TO (we're very pleased with how this turned out, it's L3 work if you like that style we'd be thrilled to do a whole army like that.
• Imperial Guard 03 RF
• Dwarfs 03 KO

Mike and Joseph were in so that Joseph could download key knowledge as they worked elbow to elbow. Joseph is leaving next week and I am very sad. Jokingly, I curse him out and tell him what a bastage he is. So, we need to be sure that someone else has all the artist's notes and techniques to be sure that projects have continuity. This is the secret circle of art around here.

Joseph really added a lot to the crew. He practically invented a new style of painting in these last few months. have a SINGLE slot for the March 4-11 painting cycle. Does anyone want it? After that the calendar is open. I am short on projects currently.

When I finally slogged home at 7pm, we had Family Home Evening: a lesson on "free agency" and then watching a Spongebob movie together.

Me so tie-red.

PS- I'm adding this two hours later. My wife and I fell asleep during Sponge Bob, leaving our two year old to run the house. He pulled two dozen eggs out of the fridge and plastered his room with them. I wonder how long that was percolating in his little baby brain.

Sunday February 17 2008

This was the laziest Sunday ever. All I managed to do was to prepare the Dark Heresy adventure for next Friday and watch Stargate all day. I barely made it to church, but only for enough time to teach the Elders Quorum lesson (on repentance, which I must say I desperately needed to hear!) And I guess I went out and visited a few families (for EQ), so that's something.

Anyway, in other news, I've put on seven pounds and leveled off. My pants are tight. I don't like it one bit. It's the first time I've ever been worried about my weight. So, I've cut back from five candy bars a day to just one candy bar a day. I'll let you know how that all turns out.

Saturday February 16 2008

Saturday, I went with the boys to a Monster Truck rally in Salt Lake City. It sounded like a good idea at the time, but it was too loud for the boys (age two and six). We picked up a bed for Kenna and bought some nice trimmings for it. Saturday night we cleaned her room and got it all set up. She was super excited. And my wife was pleased-- she had saved up to buy it all.

The next morning we found Kenna in bed with Griffin-- she didn't want to sleep by herself. That's kids for ya.

Nice Nurgle

A few kind words about this Nurgle project:

Hey Shawn, Just wanted to let you know ... the package arrived today =)

Everything is totally awesome! They look even better than in the video/pictures. I’m very happy with everything and I can’t wait for batch 02.

The daemon prince especially looks ridiculously good.

The project overall is good and bad news. The bad news is the sad realization that I’ve been painting for 10+ years and I could paint for another 10 years without being able to reach that level, which of course leads to the good news for you that every one of my future armies will be a Blue Table army form now on. I wish you all the success in the world and hope you stay in business for a long time.

Thank you! Ben H. (Canada)

Thursday February 14 2008

Picture: a War Machine Menoth warjack; a Reckoner. This army was quite an unusual project and turned out very nicely. The artist spent a lot of time on these, an extra few working days. At least one of which he was down at the studio until midnight. We all learned a lot about how to paint from Joseph. I found out today that he is *not* a canvas painter. He just pulled all of this right out of his soul.
Hear my expert oration.
See the nearly 100 pics.

Another day in heaven.

The following two projects came through today:

• Dark Menoth 01 JR
• Vampire Counts 01 JC

The following projects were checked out and are expected to be finished in the next 4-5 days:

• Chapter Masters 01 JS
• Green Tyranids 02 JC

In March we're having a special on Zombies and Skeletons: a L2 paint job for $2.75 AND 31% off the retail cost of your models. You should be sure to ask for the special. See the first one hundred.

It snowed like twelve inches last night. That was fun to shovel. The world is very quiet when it snows. All sounds are absorbed into the snowpack.

Dark Heresy is coming! We are getting together tomorrow for character generation.

I have a few slots open for the March 4-11 Cycle for both assembly and painting. And the latter part of March is pretty wide open. Still not too late for Adepticon.

Wednesday February 13 2008

Picture: Grey Knights in ivory armor L4. See the rest of the squad here.

The more things that are going on at the studio, the less I write in the Blog. It’s reversed.

Since I was up until 3am this morning (I was extremely wound up from Insane Tuesday) I slept in until like 9am.

Today was a lot calmer. The following projects are officially done:

• Skaven 01 TB
• Emperors Children 03 EB
• Empire 03 JM
• Daemonhunters 01 BC
• Tzeentch 01 JS
• Zombies 01 JC (pics still forthcoming)

I can tell when a project turns out well because I wish I could keep it! I really, really like those ivory armored Grey Knights and very well may have a set made up for the studio... especially since they fit in so well with Dark Heresy.

We've got a few new Painters at the studio. They are going through the grueling first three months, each project like a giant leaden medicine ball to the gut. I often compare it to this scene. I have no use anymore for artists who are not teachable. One of the principal qualities I look for is "beginner's mind". In the clip, Pai Mei says "this is the beginning"; that Uma was in a place where she could start her journey. I am certainly in the same boat; I am constantly learning new things from the artists. Joseph is some kind of savant who showed me an entirely different way of painting-- which he took from painting on canvas.

The buzz around the studio is about Dark Heresy. We're making characters this Friday morning. I am completely stoked and have a LOT of related projects in the works. I have ordered numerous extra copies which I intend to sell at a profit when they become scarce. I can't believe they discontinued the 40K roleplaying game rulebook. Beyond belief.

When I left the studio this afternoon it was snowing horizonatally; sticky, slashing snow that forms an icy crust when it hits the windshield. It was too dangerous to drive. When I got home, Tamie and Jonah left on a "mommy-son date" leaving me with Griffin and Kenna. It was like Lord of the Flies. I fell asleep on the couch, exhausted, and the kids just ran rampant. When I woke up Griffin had got out all the tools and "fixed" the dining table and smashed broccoli into the carpet.

Then, I actually managed to catch up on all the emails, and around midnight I am writing this.

Oh, and I'm booking projects for March now. The second week in March to be exact, so now's a good time to get your project on the docket. Still time to get it done before Adepticon.

I also might add that I have two armies in the studio for sale: Dragons of Moloch (chaos) and Lions Rampant (pushing, I think, 3500 pts).

Ooooh! And in other HUGE news, the L2 Urban Tau I put up on youtube recently are for sale... the giant 3,000 pointer. That's on the block for half price: $1150. If you do the math, it's like $850 worth of models. First come, first served.

http://www.bluetablepainting.com/view_gallery.php?galleryID=2033
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QppOOCDaBZ0

Here's what's in it:

Tau Infantry L2 x88
Stealth Suits L2 x12
Drones L2 x32
Battle Suits L2 x19
Tau Tanks L2 x6
>> Extra Weapons L2 x36 (magnetized)
>> Extra Turrets for Tanks L2 x3 (magnetized)

Be sure to email me first if you're interested, to be sure I still have it.

I do plan on spending about three more hours on it, just checking for rough spots.

Tuesday February 12 2008

Hey all, I had an enormous day today. It was insane. I don't think I barely scratched my Inbox. So, hold tight, I will be able to catch up tomorrow!

I did shoot some footage around 10pm. We stayed until midnight and it still wasn't all done. More to come.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpIqvTpTFy0

Daddy Wants One

I would love to get my hands on one of these. Yes, I know they are majorly already out of print, but if you have one and would be willing to part with it, let's talk.

This is a limited edition Dark Heresy book by the way. You can contact me at bluetablepainting@gmail.com

Saturday February 9 2008 My Cup Runneth Over

Picture: a custom Wave Serpent I painted in 2000. This is one of my much, much earlier armies. I was very proud of it. In fact, my new year's resolution for 2000 was to collect every army published at the time. I made it to eight armies. Some days I would get up at 3am to get in a few hours of work before heading out to my job (I would leave around 4:30am for the hour-long commute). I can't believe I did that for years on end. Anyhoo, see the other pics here.

Warning: almost no game-related material today.

Today was a perfect and wonderful day. I spent some time this afternoon working with one of our rookie painters (which is funny, because a "rookie" painter at BTP is what would be considered an experienced hobbyist painter). That was very rewarding.

Having wrapped up almost all the loose ends at the studio, I left for Wal Mart with my wife. But by the time we got there, the boys were asleep so I just stayed in the car with them. But by the time my wife got out, they were awake and wanted to go inside. Wal Mart is a magical place; wall to wall junk you mostly don't need. But they have a lot of good staple items at decent prices...

After that we went to a ward Valentines Day activity (for the Elders Quorum) and that was awesome! My wife and I realized what a great marriage we have. It's because we both have short memories and don't remember offenses more than ten minutes. I often say it's what it must be like if two mentally retarded people got married. It's like "what were we fighting about? I don't remember either. Say, let's grab some milk and cookies and go watch TV."

The kids got some late Christmas presents from their grandma including some slide whistles for the bathtub (they make tones according to how much water is in them) and the kids had a groovy old time with those. When all three of them are in the tub I call it "kid soup" and joke that I'm going to chop up some carrots and potatoes for the stew. And the water does look like a disgusting stew when they are done.

Now on to the good part: I got about a quater the way through the Dark Heresy book. It reminds me of old school RPGs what with all the charts and rolling. I'm eager to run an adventure, but I know how irresponsible that would be. Well, we'll see.

Tau "Thunderbolt from the Heavens" Army List and Tactics

Here's an interesting list for Tau. I think this would be very flexible and fun to play. Thanks go to a BTP client for this one:

Army:
2x 12 fire warriors with pulse carbines (24 total.)

1 crisis suit commander, positional relay and twin linked missile pods, body guard with 2 crisis suits with targeting aray and twin linked missile pods.

3xsquads of 3 crisis suits with targeting aray and twin linked missile pods

Commander farsight with 7 crisis suit body guard (each with twin linked plasma rifle and shield generator.)

3 broad sides with smart missile system and targeting aray, shas'vre with target lock, shield drones, and blacksun filter.

Army deploys with broadsides claiming a good lain of fire, the fire warriors taking up defensive positions around the broad sides, and the 3 man crisis suit commander and body guard hiding behind something.

Turn one, broad sides pick off up to 2 targets with divided fire. Fire warriors keep their heads down, commander and company fire 6 twin linked missiles at whatever the broadsides didn't kill. They use their move to get in line of sight for their target, then use their jump jet move to get back behind cover.

turn 2, repete, accept that now Farsight's unit comes in on a 2 up deep striking and unleashes 2 bs 5 plasma shots and the rest of the unit gets off 14 twin linked plasma rifle shots if they can do so within 12 inches.) Pretty much, what ever they shoot at dies.

Turn three, farsight moves to start exterminating units, broadsides continue to plug armor and big infintry, missile pod commander continues to snipe, in addition the three units of 3 each crisis suits all come in on a 3+ from deep strike (unleashing 18 twin linked str 7 bs 4 ap 4 shots at range 36.)

Continue shooting (the crisis suits using hit/run or pop up from around tarain to avoid return fire) until there's nothing left of the enemy.

Fire warriors can pin with their carbines, or use them to pick off smaller units before charging them to chump block the broad sides.

Editor's Note: This army would cost about $1100 to do from A-Z appearing on your doorstep magically in about thirty days. If you did it at L2, it would be more like $900.

Friday February 8 2008

Picture: one of my favorite Lizardmen color schemes; an oldie but goodie from BTP! See the others.

I played a game this morning with a friend of mine.

The following projects are currently under the brush and should be done in the next seven days:

• Tzeentch 01 JS
• Necrons 01 TA
• Witch Hunters 01 JD
• Amazons! GT rush
• Empire 05 JM
• Emperors Children 03
• Daemonhunters 01 BC
• Imperial Guard 02 RF
• Eldar 01 TB fixes (magnets are in!)
• Urban Tau 01 AF
• Menoth 01 JR
• Fantasy Figures 02 PM fixes
• Vampire Counts 01 JC
• Dwarfs 01 AS

I went up to the local game shop with my kids tonight and picked up Dark Heresy. Good grief, that system is insanely complicated. Good grief, I mean come on. It reminds me a bit of Traveller. Anyone remember that one. It's already out of print. Just a few copies floating around. You can still get them on eBay.

Oh, and the following projects are in Assembly and should be done in the next five days:

• Road Warrior Orcs Prep
• Tyranids 01 RK bf
• Orcs 01 JE
• Deathskullz 01 PM need squig
• Dwarfs 01 KO
• Fantasy Figures 02 SJ
• Biel Tan 01 AS
• Bretonnians 01 JE
• Cygnar 01 CG

Thursday, February 7 2008 Feeling Blue

Picture: an Ultramarines Vindicator. See the rest here.

My day started at 2:30am. I woke up and couldn't get back to sleep. So, I finished up posting the high elf display videos.

I crashed around 4:30am. Then up again at 7:00am to get Kenna off to school. I did the whole thunder run so Tamie could sleep in. Then I came home, almost cleared out the inbox, nearly. Then off to the local barber with my six-year-old son. This was an old school barber-pole-barber-shop with straight razors and neck-powder. After "Megan" finished trimming our manly heads of hair, we heard the sad news that Romney had dropped out of the race. I met several distraught Mormon-folk throughout the day.

After dropping the boy off at school, I headed into the studio where Heather was finishing up a huge High Elf army.

Hear my insightful discourse.

See the pics.

Then I headed to the MTC to translate Spanish. When I was done with my duties I headed out to the residence halls just to wander around. As I walked past the corner of a building, I saw a snow-covered pine tree where I had taken a picture of myself in 1990 before I headed to my two year mission to Chile. That sudden memory was like a lightning bolt. The MTC is quite a magical place.

Translating is tough work because you have to listen to someone in English in real time with no breaks. I'm getting a little better every week.

Man, it was a slow news day. Well, I've got a game tomorrow. I really wanted to use my IG, but I think I'm going to whip out the Dragons of Moloch. We're playing a 1500 point game. The mission is indeterminate.

Tuesday, February 5 2008

Picture: an Imperial Guard Sentinel, ready for action. This is what I painted for Paint Fest January 2008. And yes I'm proud of them.
Hear my expert testimony.
See them closely.
Buy them.


As I write this I'm eating a chocolate chip cookie, drinking a glass of ice cold milk and watching Scrubs with my sweetheart.

First thing I did this morning was head to the polls and cast my vote.

Today at the studio was insane. At one point there were like eight people all crowded in. It was great. There is a great Esprit de Corps. I got to help a rookie with a Tau army, and that turned out very well.

The following projects are going under the brush this week:
Tzeentch 01 JS
Necrons 01 TA
Witch Hunters 01 JD (bitz order shorted one Exorcist-- working on it)
Amazons! GT rush (sorry, I really wanted to get them done in three days)
Empire 05 JM (please contact me- I have a question)
Road Warrior Orcs 01 RT (some delays with move trays)
Daemonhunters 01 BC
Imperial Guard 02 RF
Lord of the Rings 01 GM
Vampire Counts 01 JC
Menoth 01 JR (turning out very well, a bit different than the original idea, though)
Fantasy Figures 02 PM fixes
Dwarfs 01 AS
Eldar 01 TB fixes (needs magnetization of dowels)

Aaaand what about last week? It was chock full of HUGE projects.
High Elves 03 DL (finishing up then working on the display board tomorrow)
Orks 01 MP (waiting on paaaaaayment)
Ultramarines 01 JD (due in by Thursday)
Urban Tau 01 AF (delayed a week for some extra attention)
Skaven 01 TB (underway)

As usual, if you don't see your project, and you're wondering what's going on, by all means contact me.

What's on my mind? The last thing I thought I would ever be thinking about: Imperial Guard. I got those Sentinels up and running and I just want to play a game. It's been too long. I think Ren is working on some Guard, too. I think he might need a good smack-down. He brought them in today for me to do a little interview, but we didn't have time (did I mention it was insane-- it was like a ten hour sprint, eat your lunch with one hand and type with the other type of crazy).

I'm expecting some of the Orks in tomorrow from assembly and that means that I can start in on them. I've settled on Goffs, though I will probably include more red.

Tau 01 AF- We took the project in a slightly different direction by adding battle damage and weathering. I think it looks good. I'm stoked.

I am shutting down the terrain room for six weeks. I don't think that affects anything.

Are you Ready for the Tuesday of Destiny?

Twenty-four states are scheduled to hold caucuses or primary elections on Super Tuesday, 2008. Blue denotes Democratic-only caucuses (3), Red denotes Republican-only contests (2), and Purple represents states holding elections for both parties (19).

Are you in a state that is holding its Primary tomorrow?

Find out here.

Call 877-766-7285 and someone will look up your status and can tell you where the polling place is.

Good Grief! First religion then politics! Will it never end? I promise there will be some juicy wargamer stuff tomorrow.

Sunday February 3, 2008

It snowed today, nine inches in Salt Lake Valley and now it's our turn.

Since I moved to Utah Valley, I've had the feeling like I'm in an afterlife. When I look out the window at our neighborhood once I was moved to tears. It was so beautiful.

Warning! No game-related material today. It's not too late to turn back!

I expect an Messenger to come to me and say "Shawn, you died on the way to Spanish Fork. You've been dead three years. This is the afterlife."

This year, I decided not to shovel the driveway. There is now an impenetrable six inch slab of ice. It would take a monumental effort to chip away at that. I think that is perhaps how it is with grudges, bad feelings, and bad habits. It takes a continuous effort to keep them clear-- to forgive often and make small course corrections.

Today, I feel inclined to say a word of encouragement to young readers (ages 12-16). Keep your chin up. Life gets better. Whatever you are going through, it gets better and you will get past it and be a stronger person for it.

This life is a great voyage of self-discovery. We are half-blind for a reason. Without the veil between us and the Celestial World, there would be no need for faith, and indeed faith could not be developed. Being human, we would remove from our lives all misery and suffering, and thus deprive ourselves of one of the greatest things a soul can have: to KNOW good from evil, bitter from sweet, sickness from health.

Before this earth life, we lived with Heavenly Father. We knew each other well as a great family. Now, we are in mortality to learn by our own experience. There is no other way. When we make mistakes we can repent and get things right. Sometimes, something that seems so bad at the time ends up to be a great blessing.

Tragedy or Destiny. This is one of the greatest discourses on this subject that I have ever read in my life. If you take time to read it through, you'll be glad you did.

It occurred to me that if Heavenly Father were to reveal himself to someone, so that he knew for a fact that He was real, that it would take away his freedom of choice to some extent. There would be a tremendous burden to now act on that knowledge. Rather, Heavenly Father gives a little light here and there depending on the level of obedience, which must be given of free will.

Matthew 13:45 ¶ Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:

46 Who, when he had found one a pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

Cost of the pearl: everything you have. The pearl is to know for a fact that god lives and to know him personally; what is He really like? Casual curiosity is not enough.

I want to express my deep love and gratitude to those that have sent kind emails, kept the business afloat with orders, and helped with advice and labor.

My heart is full of kindess to you young people, going through your tumultuous young years. I assure you that the thunderstorm in your mind does pass and there is calm.

PS- Every once in a while I get the urge to make a post like this. I don't want to come across as "preachy". I don't make any pretentions to being a good person. Anyone that knows me can attest to my irreverence and imperfection. If this was helpful to you, please drop me a line, otherwise I will probably just keep it to myself.

Saturday, February 2 2008

Picture: a Nephilim from Privateer Press. See the other figures. I never get tired of this model. I own one!

Today was hectic, like every day it seems this week. It was insane.

I am currently booking projects for March.

Last night I headed up to Salt Lake for a nephew's "court of honor" where he was given the rank of Eagle Scout. That was really something. One of the speakers brought a real eagle and that blew little Griffin's mind. All our local family is just outstanding. Tamie and the older kids stayed up there with her sister and I headed back home with Griffin where I put him in his own little bed. Once I put on the little rain forest noisemaker he passed out in like 0.5 seconds.

Today we had a huge Paint Fest at my house with like six artists. It was a blast. I plan on doing another one in about three weeks. I didn't get much done. I was working on a Blood Bowl Amazon team for a friend and some Sentinels for the studio Guard army. Those are all part way done. I hardly got anything accomplished. In fact, I even petered out on the taping of the show. Ah, well, next time we'll do it longer and better. Likely it will be held on February 23.

As usual, we're working on about twenty projects. There are a couple of projects in digital photography that I wasn't able to get to this weekend like I hoped (Ultramarines and Tyranids).

Tonight I headed back up to Salt Lake for a farewell to my brother-in-law who is being deployed to Kuwait for fourteen months. That's pretty rough on his family, but we're here to shore up.

PS- Angela turned me on to a new singer called Mika. So far, I like it. Here's a sample.