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)