Wasteland Wondering May 25

Hello and Welcome back,

Time for another Wasteland Wondering, it's been a while since we had one of these. In this chat I will be highlighting the direction my hobby is going in.

There are four or five new blog posts queued, which I hope to get posted up as soon as I have grabbed some pictures. I seem to be struggling to arrange getting pictures recently.

My Post Apocalyptic setting is slowing down. PA isn't grabbing me as much these days. I am working slowly to populate the Skrap Knights and Rustlords factions. 

The Rustlords

Maybe I need to find another name for these rambling posts, as they aren't just concentrated on Post Apocalyptic.

The Wild Galaxy setting is growing exponentially and I am finding it quite inspiring. I think there is such a wide scope for creativity it keeps me interested. I have had to start a spreadsheet to keep track of all the nonsense I create.

A friend recently asked me why I use Genetically Engineered Life Forms (GELFs) for my other Space races instead of rebranding them as aliens. It is in part, a carry over from the Mattblackgod’s world setting as I wanted to use 40k miniatures, as stableised mutations felt a bit of a stretch. The introduction of my Ork collection as combat GELFs felt fitting for the history of Mattblackgod’s world. It just felt natural to keep the GELFs in the wider Galactic setting.

ORCS GELFs terrorise a frontier world settlement 

I have no issue with aliens in Sci Fi, it's just that I want them to be very different to humans. In fact there are some intelligent aliens in my setting. Not to mention plenty of alien beasties. 

But I have other reasons for using GELFs. Firstly, I feel just going "Aliens" is too easy and is a stale go to for most SF settings. Secondly, the chances that another intelligent race out there, being a four limbed biped is extremely unlikely. I feel it is somewhat lazy and arrogant to think so. Thirdly, the GELFs and GELF wars are a satirical view of human nature and it's behaviour to anything "non human" or in many cases other Humans because they differ in some way and our reaction when things go wrong. Our history is littered with examples of such behaviour. I suppose in some ways it's my version of a far future Frankenstein cautionary tale. 

To be honest ever since seeing GELFs in the Red Dwarf TV show, I have liked them as a concept. Even the main character in the 2000AD Rogue Trooper which I read when I was knee high is a type of GELF, genetically bred to survive a toxic contaminated world and operate as an enhanced elite fighting force. 

I have been considering doing a GELF fluff post, but there is so much material built up over the years it will need several posts. Speaking of GELFs, I am planning a new GELF group to add soon. By soon, I mean in probably in next two years, given my work rate! 

The miners of Maddans Independent Mining Company 

The Maddans world setting is slowly growing. I am thinking of adding the only city called Hecksclutch to the world, situated next to the planets main space port as a centre point for conflict. This lawless frontier mining world is inspired by Logans world in the 40K Rogue Trader fluff mixed with Pandora from the Borderlands Computer game, with my own slice of creativity added to it. It was created as a vehicle to allow all my factions to be on world protecting their colonies while trying to extract as much wealth from the world, before a legal owner is found. I am still working on the Dusty Space Port buildings for this setting. I still have a pile of wonderful Fogou Models to finish or modify for this setting. 

Iron Ladies gangers attack Shorty of Loop's Heroes someplace deep in Wreckage Station.

Regular readers of this blog will have seen the introduction of Wreckage Station during my 5 Parsecs campaign. I have been expanding the background fluff for this setting. Terrain has been knocked together from various sets to game in this old moon sized space station. As luck would have it these models will also be useful for the Zone Raiders game set in the Matrioshka. 

Rather than drop a massive peice of fluff for Wreckage Station, I am thinking of news bulletins dropped by the "Authorities". This way it slowly builds and adds colour to the setting. 

Readers of this Blog will recall me doing a review of the Skirm game by Bill Making Stuff. I have been slowly putting together factions and terrain for this game. Check out the Gutterlands or Bill's You Tube Channel. Both sites are cock full of ideas.*share links for Gutterlands and Bill Making Stuff YouTube channel* . I find the Gutterlands (or Tapu to give it, it's true name) setting quite intoxicating. Hobby wise it points to parts of the hobby I find really rewarding, kitbashing, trashbashing and converting models. At present I am working on the Skirm factions. 

Now as luck would have it, Wreckage Station orbits a dead world (called Skeletal worlds). A major battle during the GELF wars turned it into a dusty rock covered in skeletons, wrecks and ruins. I intended to develop it into a setting with crews from the orbital station making salvage ruins in the ruins. But I hadn't gotten around to any world building. So I began to mix inspiration from Bill's setting with my Wild Galaxy setting and Wreckage Station fluff. And so the lost world Corrosion was born. Some of the background for this world will be filtered through to this blog through the planned Wreckage Station News Bulletin. 

Some WIP conversions I am working on to make DEAP troops for the Skirm game.

I am looking forward to creating both colonists and terrain for Corrosion/Skirm/Gutterlands. There will be a lot of future conversion work.

My 5 parsecs from home campaign involving the crew of the Problem Child aka Loop's Heroes is still on hold. Hopefully I can begin organising games again soon. I am hoping to maybe include some future missions to the surface of Corrosion for the crew.

Anyway I have rambled on for long enough, thank you for reading. 

Take care out there.

Wasteland Wondering November 22

Hello and welcome back to another Wasteland Wondering. Pull up a crate to the fire and sit yourself down.

It’s now that time of year when my hobby time gets put on the back burner as we get ready for the Christmas season. It’s a busy time in our house. I may get to slap some paint on a figure or two. Hopefully I might get a little kit bashing done. Who knows I might even find time to run a couple of games especially while the football World Cup is on. 

While the lack of hobby time is frustrating for me during the dark season, it does give me more time to let my imagination to run riot and work on background fluff. As well as my imaginings for Mattblackgod’s world there will be some for my Wild Galaxy setting and he fluff for my Zone Raiders setting on the post singularity world of Matrioshka. 

Zone Raiders is a game by Tony Xao. The setting is one I keep returning to as it is rich and suits my figure collection. The faction lists would help anyone with 40K, Necromunda, Deadzone, Firefight or Infinity figures in their collection. One thing is definite, I will need a lot more rusty industrial terrain for the dark zones of Matrioshka. 

So while my hobby posts will be limited there will be a few fluff posts. There may be the annual review post too. Hopefully there might be a post Christmas loot post as well, assuming I am on the fat man’s good list that is.

Stay warm and take care out there. 

Thanks for reading. 

March Already??

Wow, March already! Those two months flew by. I am afraid life has overtaken most of my hobby time. Not totally but it’s been pretty full on. 

Firstly in January we decided to redecorate our living room. A full weekend of painting only to discover we hated the colour. So it was back to the store to collect a different colour. Another day of throwing paint at the walls and we have a room we are happy with. 

We have been chasing roofers to do some repair and improvement work, it went well but three back to back storms later and we need them to come back and fix another problem. I don’t blame them for not wanting to be on a roof after the recent winds.

The worst thing is my Dad took ill and was rushed to hospital with sepsis. He has been in hospital for over three weeks now. It was touch and go for him for a while. Thankfully his condition has improved and will be coming home soon. He gave us quite a scare and the medical staff had given up hope. 

One good thing came out of it, it helped me reconnect with some of my cousins and Dad’s old friends. 

During this time my Mum got Covid in the care home meaning she couldn’t visit Dad. I am glad to say that she only had light symptoms and made a full recovery. 

During all this, like the roofers I have been keeping an eye on the weather. Not just for the deployment of leak defences but to plan time to get my motorbike in for its MOT. Spring is approaching and I am itching to get some miles under its wheels. 

One good bit of news is my new work role which allows me to work from home has massively helped my energy levels and health. In line with everything else of late that has been insanely busy the last couple of weeks. I am glad of my new role as I think if I was commuting to site (over an hour each way), doing a full days work, rushing home to care for my wife and trying to spend time with my Dad , I think I would have hit that exhaustion wall. Another advantage is that working from home is saving me a fortune in fuel especially with the recent fuel price inflation. 

Then there is the horrible situation in Ukraine. It is sickening to see. My heart goes out to the Ukrainian people. I wish that our county could do more but Russia has that Nuke threat over anyone trying to help Ukraine against Russian invasion and war crimes. We were both glad when we spotted a local Polish group collecting aid supplies for the Ukrainian refugees in Poland. At least we can do something. To the people of Ukraine and it’s hero’s you are in our thoughts and prayers. 

Yet again it’s the ordinary people of both sides and their soldiers that pay the price for the insane ego trip of a single man. Does history teach us nothing? 

“So what hobby have you managed?” I hear you cry. This is after all a hobby blog. 

I got this loon shrine as a Christmas gift from my wife (I told you she was a keeper!). It was a fun kit to assemble. I have since filled the cracks. I just need to get it painted now. 

I felt the urge to assemble some Maelstroms Edge Broken figures. Initially I was going to use them as a Stargrave crew. But then I realised that they would make a good Post Apocalyptic Militia. It took me a while to assemble them as I had lots of help from my furry friends. 

One good thing about ME figures is that they come with two pairs of legs per torso, multiple arms, weapons and heads. Great for conversion work. After a bits box delve I managed to piece together more figures for the Militia. Some other torsos have been added with ME Broken heads, arms and weapons. 

The extra figures need a little filler and puttying. I see these guys patrolling the mean streets and walls of the Last City. 

That’s all for now. I hope we all have better, easier days soon.

Thanks for reading. Take care out there.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!!

I wish all my readers a very merry Christmas, Yuletide, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice time, Saturnalia or what you do (or don’t) celebrate (the peoples of Mattblackgod’s world celebrate Apocomas!). 

I hope you all have a fabulous holiday and that you get some nice gifts. For those lucky enough to get a game in may the dice gods smile upon you.

All the best! Merry Christmas!

Danny/Mattblackgod 

Wasteland Wondering - the last city

Welcome back and to another Wasteland Wondering.

I have been playing around with an idea for the last couple of weeks. I had an idea to create the Last City in the Mattblackgod’s world fluff. The idea is in part inspired by the Killing Moon novel Rod Glenn. 

The last city is a strange mix of high tech new buildings, repaired ruins, adobe huts and ramshackle looking huts all protected by compound walls. The compound walls often reflect the township they protect. In between the compounds lie many streets of mostly stripped ruins. Decades of survivors has left most of them empty husks. Even the skeletons have been taken away and recycled.

My thoughts is to make a fortress city run by a loony claiming to be a descendent of the mattblackgod - the planet’s founder. This gives the leader a pseudo religious element which has been used by despots to stay in power for many millennia. 

This city is based from a old government bunker. Unlike the other bunkers this one has the advantage of knowing roughly where the military bunkers, SOS bunkers and Vault locations are. Although finding the local ones wasn’t always easy as the orbital nuclear bombardment has changed the world somewhat. Over the years they have looted and absorbed a few of each bunker. This makes puts them in a very strong position supply and equipment wise. The SOS Bunkers have equipment to manufacture what may be need by the Dwellers to survive. Most of this has been put into use producing weapons and other equipment for the Fortress City.

The new powerful hub of “the government” has attracted lots of wastelanders. As such the ruined city the Last City lies in now has a rough set of barricades miles beyond the Last City. Within the barricades lies several settlements and cities attracted by the security and of the trade advantages the Last City provides. They are left pretty autonomous in terms of governance. The only thing the Last City calls for from each town, settlement and gang territory is tribute to the City. They are also expected to muck in and come out fighting when the city is under threat. 

While the (Matt) Black Guard patrols various parts of the city it is pretty lawless and it is not unknown for battles to break out when disputes occur. The (Matt) Black Guard usually sit it out and then go mop up. Outside the compounds after dark is dangerous as criminals, slavers and what ever may have creeped up from the old world sewers are out hunting. 

Outside the boundaries of the Last City the bandits, tribals, mutants, Trogs (Orks), Mootie men (Grots), Vermen, nomads and small settlements still exist. They are threats to the salvage teams that make a living stripping and looting the corpse of the old world. 

The plans are to move my more “civilised” creations/places into one area to allow conflicts and trade to occur. There will be some new factions and the combining of some others. Hopefully this idea will allow me to develop new city districts in the future. 

Most of my military type units will be assigned to the (Matt) Black Guard. While any new figures added will get stylish new black armour and mixed uniform colours. I will mix and match figure styles to reflect the looted styles of kit. 

The Last City and its environs are hungry for old world materials and items. While scrap metal, glass and plastics are traded to be recycled then refined into fresh usable materials. Rubble is also treated in this manner. Fuel is cooked up by various groups. Different groups and gangs will hold responsibility for different city areas. 

Power and water is supplied by the Fortress City to the smaller townships, settlements and bases. Which is another strangle hold the city keeps. The larger players have their own power and water supplies. Food is grown or caught by many. Plus some townships specialise in producing synthetic foods. 

There will be more ideas as I develop the factions. I have to be careful that I this doesn’t end up a full on RPG. 

I got fed up with all my main factions being spread all over the MBW map this idea allows more interaction. Now it’s time to go find a suitable large city map I can use for inspiration.

Thanks for reading. Take care out there.

Wasteland Wondering - 15mm plans

Hello and welcome to another wasteland wondering.

My 15mm post apocalyptic project has been given a kiss of life. I like the scale for many reasons. Quick to paint, cheap, easy to store, a decent game can be played on a small table, smaller items can be trash bashed into terrain easily. I won’t mention that I have a desire to build some 15mm space ships. 

Currently the plan was to recreate MBG world in 15mm. However I have taken this opportunity to reimagine MBW. This started with the creation of Drop City a while back. 

So far the 15mm plan is to mix elements from MBW with inspirations take from the Toxic World Series of novels, Rage 1 & 2 video games, 2000 AD and the Mad Max video game. Although if I am honest what ever else catches my attention will probably end up getting added.

I like the Rage video games as they are quite high tech wastelands based on a apocalypse that happens in the future which ties in with the feel of MBW. There is a some stealing of ideas from the maps of these games. I aim to create versions of the townships found in these games.  The advantages of a bunch of rag tag high tech figures is that these can also be used for frontier world town militas. 

So what else is planned?

The ghouls will be staying as I have already painted them. There will be a change of direction from the critters of the Fallout universe. These ghouls are human degenerates. Addiction to the Kraptoidiots drug Stonk has left them chemically lobotomised, reverting to an animalistic state. 

Of course Kraptoidiots corporation will be turning up too. Again I have to decide what figures to use for them. 

Mutants exist across the world. These are thought to be failed genetic experiments to creat super soldiers. Whoever created them didn’t destroy their failed creations but dumped them in the wastelands where they have spread. Nearly all mutants are feral and are often limited to using basic hand weapons. Most mutants are small in size (3 to 4 foot) and attack in groups attempting to overwhelm attackers with sheer numbers. They often live alongside ghouls/humanimals. There are larger mutants call Abadons who stand around 8 to 9 foot high. They are sometimes accompanied by mutants. The largest mutants found in the wastelands are the Crushers who often stand around 10 to 12 foot high although they can sometimes be larger. Mutants worship them as gods and a Crusher nest often has large numbers of mutants living with them. 

The Authority are a big protagonist in the Rage video games. They act as oppressors of the wastelands. I am thinking of creating a faction to act like these high tech oppressors. 

GELFs (Genetically Engineered Life Form) may also turn up. Orks (Trogs), Grots and Vermen are on the cards. 

There are a few other ideas rattling about in my skull which I hope to reveal if my inspiration doesn’t run dry before then. 

I would like to make various gangs of bandits too. Let’s see how it goes.

World map wise I am thinking about using a super continent so all the elements I have created can in theory go knock the snot out each other on the table top without needing to cross seas. 

Keep watching. 

Thanks for reading and stay safe out there.

Wasteland Wondering

Hello and welcome back to another Wasteland Wondering, 

Due to the CV-19 virus that is plaguing the globe at present I find myself with a lot of time on my hands. My wife is at risk from the virus. As a result both her and I are in social distancing for the next 12 weeks. 

Luckily I have plenty of hobby to got at. 

There is loads of figures in the pile of shame which with my wife’s running daily dialysis and regular cat interference should keep me busy for at least two years. 

In addition there is 3 x Ramshackle games cargo haulers, A Ork buggy, a fantasy house, Ainsty Bus gang hideout, 3 x alternative armies 15mm apc’s, 15mm Hammers Slammers combat cars & blower tanks, 4 x 15mm M113 APC conversions, FOGOU 28mm Scrap wall Kickstarter to paint, FOGOU sand village Kickstarter to paint. That’s just the stuff off the top of my head. 

There is a few model kits to get built too and lots of terrain to update. Then there is the endless list of ideas I would like to build. 

So what else is happening on Mattblackgod’s World? I have been playing Rage 2 on the PS4. The game pretty much fits MBW perfectly. It has been inspiring me. I would like to build something like the Arks in the game (think of high tech bunker). It would make for a great game objective. No idea what the track bits are for on the top. 

One thing I have been considering is changing The Kraptoidiots Corporation (K2I) modus operandi. At present they supply very addictive food/drugs to settlements across the wastelands. I am thinking that they will start to “recruit”/press gang/kidnap people as slaves from smaller settlements. 

The figures I use for the K2I goons are 40K Catachans. I am thinking of updating the figures to a more wasteland look. Despite the tweaks that they have had the force still has a too uniform look. 

Hopefully I will have some figures painted soon so I can share some pictures with you. 

Thanks for reading. Stay safe and health out there. 

Wasteland Wondering - Historic and Fantasy ruins

Hello and welcome back. In this Wasteland Wondering I will be looking at other types of ruins often overlooked on the post apocalyptic table, Historical and Fantasy ruins. 

This all started when I was chatting to some friends about post apocalyptic ruins and I happened to mention that some historic fantasy ruins could be used on the post apocalyptic games table. This was met with some refusal as they don’t look “right”. 

While most Post Apoc films are set in the USA where a lot of buildings fall into the under 200 years old category, here in the U.K. and across Europe there are buildings (and ruins) from the 12th century onwards mixed with modern buildings. There are earlier ruins about too not to mention a liberal sprinkling of standing stones going back to the Neolithic era. In fact it is so common that we don’t really notice it. Some places are like stepping back in time. 

I could list a thousand examples without trying. For example the majority of houses where I live is mostly 19th and 20th century. But within a few miles there are 13th and 14th century buildings can be found some mixed in with 20th century houses. There are even standing stones in the south part of the city.

Scotch piper pub a couple of miles from me

York shambles

Edinburgh has medieval streets and so has York. Not to mention all the castles. Nottingham (centre of the Wargames universe) has a mix of buildings some going back to medieval times. Conway, Llangollen and many parts of Wales have dark age and Norman castles. This is in addition to some buildings going back to Queen Elizabeth the first. Then there is the old abbeys (often ruined) dotted about the place. Derbyshire has a lot of old historical mansions and castles. One of which has been the star in quite a few films including Robin Hood prince of thieves and the Princess Bride. 

Conway castle 

So how does historic and fantasy buildings in your ruins feel to you? How would you feel about them being on the table? What historical buildings are near by you? 

We concluded that if you wanted to you could take a fantasy or historical ruin and add magnets. This would allow to add the modern bits like notice boards, lights, power boxes, pipes etc. 

Looking at that list locally and where I live to visit I am surprised I am not more into Fantasy games. There is a lot of inspiration to be had for the modeller. 

Thanks for looking and take care out there. 

Interesting Times

Hello and welcome back to my blog.

Long time no post, many apologies. Life has been interesting...like the old Chinese curse. Don’t worry some hobby time has been found. 

I was unable to go to BOYL Oldhammer event at Foundry Miniatures for various personal reasons. It’s a shame as I had blast last year. It was nice to meet other like minded individuals and put some names to faces. 

It was just as well I didn’t go. We wouldn’t have got there. My car has been giving me expensive headaches recently. Last Friday (the first day of BYOL) whilst bimbling through Liverpool, it decided to rip its oil pump to bits. It was going to be an expensive fix which would require a new oil pump, a full engine strip and clean to ensure there was no swarf lurking anywhere else. Better to be around the corner from my house than on a motorway looking forward to a great weekend I suppose. So all the headaches of vehicle disposal, car hire and new car hunting followed. Thankfully that all seems to be sorted for now. 

Still I have enjoyed all the pictures of the BYOL games I have seen on Facebook and on various blogs. Some inspirational stuff there. It also makes me realise that I need to get some games in. 

Hobby wise I have been working on some terrain builds. They are still work in progress. There is a bunker, a wreck, an industrial pump thing and a watch tower. 

I have been reworking an old bit of terrain. A industrial silo thing that was far too clean for its own good. New detail and some weathering has been added. It needs some added bits to finish. 

For the wastelands I am working on a Guardians faction (inspired by Fallouts Brotherhood of Steel) using Maelstroms Edge Epirans and some new bandits made from the bits box. I am also working on court of Baron Schmitt - the leader of Schmittville using Blind Beggar Figure. 

Bitza bandits with parts from all over. 

Another job that has been annoying me was the painted figures pile. I have finally organised them and labelled the various factions/gangs. This is so I can locate them when I want them rather than spend hours trying to find a particular gang. So far my wastelands has over 80 gangs and factions. I now have a nice list of them all to just to ensure I don’t miss any. It also made me think a new faction map may be in order. 

Sorting the lead and looking at the unpainted pile I have been getting lots of new warband ideas. I hope to get some of them sorted in the next couple of years. 

Thanks for looking. Take care out here.

Wasteland Wondering - 6 month update

Hello and welcome back to my blog. 

So we have been wandering for half the year and how is my hobby progress going? The totals so far are:

Figures painted:22

Figures reworked:3

Terrain finished: 8

Terrain reworked: 2

Vehicles finished: 1

Vehicles reworked: 1

Not as many as I hoped. But then real life keeps butting in. Things haven’t been helped by my cats constantly demanding attention and the purchase of a new motorbike. Not to mention the old bike getting plagued by electrical gremlins. 

Recently it was my birthday and my lovely wife bought me the Deadzone game and Beyond the gates of Antares. Lots of new high tech figures armoured for the wastelands. I foresee a lot of figure assembly in my future. Inspired by the Fallout Universe I have a few faction ideas for the various new figures. As the world was in the grips of war towards the end, these figures will be the descendants of various military groups who serve settlements (or in some cases rule them). 

As I have new military figures I have been considering what sort of society would be needed to support a group of warriors. In modern society the most civilised places the ratio of military to civilians is around 3 to 6 per 1000 civilians. The highest is North Korea with 53 per 1000 civilians. I would expect the ratio to dramatically climb during wartime. 

Now this seems a bit low for post apocalyptic societies. Looking at medieval times there was a 1 in 14 ratio. Sadly there are no numbers for the dark ages or further back. As the post apocalyptic world is dangerous nearly everyone would be a fighter however only a handful would stand while everyone will bolt if a escape route presents. Militias would exist but would mostly be active when danger approaches and then go back to their normal lives when not needed. My thinking that the ratio would be nearer 1 in 10 or even 1 in 5 ratios. So a group of say 10 warriors would need a settlement of 50 to 100 bodies to support it. 

Just my thinking.

Thanks for looking and here is to a creatively productive 6 months. 

Stay safe out there.

Wasteland Wondering

Hello and welcome back to my blog. 

So what’s happening wasteland dudes? 

Hobby time has been limited for me over the last few weeks, I have a handful of Ramshackle figures to show you when I get my act together and get the pictures sorted.

My time recently has been eaten by prolonged commutes due to wintery road conditions. The extra time on the roads has left me too tired to pick up the brushes. Then there my cat Dixie who seems to wake up every time I pick up a brush and comes to “help”. This usually leads to my abandoning painting. 

I have gotten some reading in. The Forager by Peter R Stone is a PA novel set in Australia and has a good mix of action, tension and ideas for the table. One of the many issues some of us have with our PA settings is how to introduce a foreign faction. The author manages to work around this by having a Japanese fishing fleet unable to return home after the nukes, setting up a settlement in Australia. It is an idea I will keep in mind for future setting fluff.

Recently I have discovered Metro 2034 and 2035 novels are on kindle and translated into English so they are now on the reading list. I am a huge fan of Metro 2033 so I hope they will inspire my madness.

I have been working on some background ideas which I hope to add to Mattblackgod’s world. One is a way to allow the high tech Brittannian’s more wasteland contact and to stir up tensions with the factions around Rubbleborg and beyond. I am still working on the fluff but it will also allow for salvage runs into a Metro 2033 like ruined mega city which is filled with mutated beasts and other terrors. 

The issue with the High tech city is they have firepower and equipment which leaves the local area somewhat unbalanced. Thankfully the Brittannian numbers are limited. But to mix stuff up I am working up a Brotherhood of Steel like faction who will have the kit to go head to head with the high tech dystopians. 

I have painted figures in my collection to cover most of these changes so hopefully that will keep the paint queue from getting too clogged up. I want to add more beasts to the collection especially like those found in the Metro 2033 novel and games. Giant slugs, amoebas and bio mass like things. Plus what ever catches my eye in the figure ranges across the world. 

Painting wise I am still working on Rubbleborg, Trashford and bounty hunter additions - when the cat allows. Plus work has started on reworking the first ruin that I ever built - hotel Paradiso. The white dry brushes are on and next up will be the washes. I will be going for that ageing ruin look. 

Hopefully there will be pictures soon.

That’s all for now. Thanks for reading and take care out there.

Wasteland Wondering

Hello and welcome back to another Wasteland Wondering.

It has been a couple of weeks since my last post. Yes I am still alive and kicking. Apologies for the lack of posts. Real lIfe has been busy.

On the workbench waiting for pictures are a few finished 28mm vehicles. These will be counted in my figure count. Now all I need to do is get pictures of them.

On top of our usual Halloween celebrations we have had a horde of vehicle issues. My black thumb has really let standards slip. Every time he had fixed the car another issue would raise its ugly head. He should be thankful that we don’t live in a post apocalyptic wasteland as he would meet a sticky end with that level of incompetence. 

To rub salt into the wounds my back up transportation, the bike decided to stop firing up. Typically just after getting the car sorted the fault was traced and fixed. The new splitfire spark plugs I had fitted back in June had decided to stop working. 

Hobby wise things have been interesting. 

The post apocalyptic Wargames forum is having issues loading pages and pictures won’t display. The whole thing is annoying and is forcing users away from the forum. Apparently many of the forums Tapatalk grabbed are suffering in a similar fashion. 

The only way to fix it is to get a backup of the forum from Tapatalk and rehost it elsewhere. The problem is Tapatalk want to charge me for the privilege of getting a backup of a forum that I set up and ten years worth of peoples work, ideas and hobby fun which was free to set up in the first place. This is yet another example of greedy corporate types looking for ways to fleece poor old hobbyists like myself. If anyone from Tapatalk is reading this, get a grip and get it sorted.

I backed a kickstarter called Goregasm which is a post apocalyptic combat arena game. I liked the look of it and we need to support small hobby firms. My only gripe is that the scale of the figures is a bit larger than my usual 28mm. However every wasteland needs its supermutant types. I am looking forward to seeing the game when it arrives. Of course there will be a full review when it arrives. 

The new GW 40K Speedfreaks looked interesting. I have always like Orks. I must admit that my finger hovered over the buy button. What held it back was the fact that I only like one of the vehicles. The vehicles would have been used as post apocalyptic run abouts. Another thing preventing me from buying is that I don’t want another boxed game that I won’t get to play or be drawn into the whole drop feed of models, rules and other stuff that GW likes. 

One of the better bits of hobby news is that my teenage niece has asked if I can show her how to paint figures. I have to say that I am thrilled and look forward to sharing some hobby tips with her. The hobby needs fresh blood and many more of the female of the species taking part. I hope she enjoys miniature painting as much as I do. All I have to do is get it organised. 

Another interesting twist is that my good lady announced that she would like to try Dungeons and Dragons (I have Big Bang Theory to thank for that). Now while I am not a big fan of fantasy I do like RPGs. I played D&D 1st ed back in mists of time. As memory recalls I didn’t really gel with the rules, preferring the Warhammer Fantasy RPG instead. 

Still this didn’t stop me buying the 5e starter box set. There will be some issues. We will be playing one on one (ooh err) rather than the usual adventure party size of four to six. So the starter game will need some tailoring. DMing isn’t a problem as I have done it a few times with other games.

To be honest googling resources for DnD was quite astounding. It was like peering through a door to a new world. The amount of official and fan material out is amazing. Everything from stat sheets through to character generators, name generators, mapping tools and more. I could not see GW allowing such unlicensed materials for it’s games. It is refreshing to see this approach. 

As my better half is a rookie in Geekdom I have decided to create a unique RPG for her as a introduction. Something which I hope will appeal to her interests and sense of humour. I must admit that I am having a lot of fun creating the story, maps and sketches for the game. I can see why William McAusland, creator of the Mutant Epoch RPG has turned out so much stuff for his game. It is seriously addictive. 

Don’t worry wastelanders, I won’t be joining the dark ranks of fantasy fans full time. Fantasy doesn’t push my buttons like post apoc or sci fi backgrounds. 

Soon I will be packing my hobby up for the silly season. It won’t wholly stop. The Rad Light rules will be getting some more work. Hopefully I will make some progress the great terrain refresh.

That is all for now.  Thank you for reading. Be safe out there.