Some new project ideas

This sort of overlaps with Pete's 6mm thread, but since we were idly talking on Saturday about some sort of joint project I thought I'd suggest a few ideas for things we could do. Feel free to add any others!

Dead Man's Hand
Cowboys in 28mm.
Pros: Doesn't need that many models. The game is pretty simple (from what I remember of my one demo game over a year ago). Plenty of factions available.
Cons: We don't have any appropriate terrain for this yet.

To the Last Man
WW1 - probably 28mm. These are the rules I got for resubscribing to WI.
Pros: There are some new WW1 ranges coming out from both Victrix and Bolt Action, allegedly. You could build this up into a bigger project if you wanted.
Cons: The rules seem to need at least a platoon, and don't include army lists.

Empire of the Dead
Victorian Steampunk
Pros: Kieron and I already have the rules. There are lots of factions to choose from. We already have appropriate terrain.
Cons: It's a Necromunda-like experience based campaign thing as I understand it (might be wrong, haven't actually read the rules yet). So someone could start to lose badly early on and get fed up, I suppose.

I've got a few more ideas, so I'll post those later...

I'm going to be honest, the WWI idea leaves me cold.

Empire of the Dead: having played a game, I'd say it's very much a Mordheim/Necromunda idea. The big advantage for me is that I already have suitable models for the Werewolves, and probably have enough bits and pieces to help somebody else build a Vampire warband. It's a decent game which doesn't require much investment and we've already got the rules.

Dead Man's Hand: it does sound good and I have a load of Injuns (slightly out of period, but not enough to worry about) which could've used as the Renegade Injuns from the expansion. I also have a couple of buildings that work for it as well. Again, small and accessible.

Napoleonics: Matt has British, I have Americans to paint, however Pete needs convincing and I'm not sure this is the way to get Wes more into miniatures...

Impetus: these are on my list of things to do. My dad has actually finished his army made from my spares, so I feel a bit guilty about it. We have rules and miniatures...what's stopping us?

Personally, I'd always lean towards something that won't take too much money or time to do as I'm enjoying doing superheroes and I need to get those Russians done just to clear them off my painting table. For me, I'd prefer Empire of the Dead initially, but that's largely based on convenience.

Oh, and it's not really a project, but I want you all to try the Batman Game. The rules are free and I have all the necessary miniatures and terrain. All you have to do is read and play.

Apparently, the rules have now been tidied up, but I've yet to download them.

Could the ww1 thing be done in a different scale maybe?

I'd like to try dead mans hand. Think we'd only need another couple of buildings.

I don't know why but i just can't get excited about empire of the dead. I think it comes from not having a physical book to read and losing interest when i'm trying to read the pdf....

Don't get me wrong, I'm not desperate to do EotD, it's just the easiest for me of the ones mentioned.

Here's a project...we could all work on finishing our Bolt Action armies for a certain date. With Matt switching to German Partisans there's a 'race to Berlin' idea to be explored.

Thats sounds like a good plan. Mine is mostly done, and as i'm going to be awol for a while, after this weekend the next weekend night i'm free will be the 22nd June.

That gives a good month to get on with stuff. Hows that sound?

Thirty models in a month? Hmmmmm....

One a day! Could make it later but then I go away in the middle of July for about 3 weeks as well...

Bloody nurses. Always on holiday.

I'll start working on them in groups if five and see how I get on. I'll do them in between groups of supers.

You never know, maybe Wes might join in with this discussion at some point....

I think I'm most interested in Dead Mans Hand, there's an additional book for it now that appears to be a multi player campaign, that could be interesting.

I read through the free EoTD starter rules last (Sherlock Holmes and Watson vs Jack the Ripper) and that could also be fairly interesting if the quality of the scenarios is good.

They both have the benefit for me of being relatively straightforward rule sets with minimalist entry requirements (rule book, some additional bits, and six painted people). I only say that cause I find Bolt Action a bit daunting in the choices available.

I agree that it would be good to set a date to play Bolt Action with whatever force I can muster, it might inspire me to finish painting.

Dunno about the WW1 one, isn't that just WW2 with inferior stuff?

Ha! I was busy writing all that while you were chastising me!

It sounds like we're saying let's give Dead Man's Hand a go, and finish painting Bolt Action stuff for the end of June-ish.

In terms of EotD Wes, Matt and I have the pdf rules, so you can have a copy for free.

Right then...Bolt Action it is then. Come here you little commie bar-stewards!

Cool Wes wrote:Dunno about the WW1 one, isn't that just WW2 with inferior stuff?

Weeeeeellllllllll, it shouldn't be, because the two wars were fought in different ways, and that should be reflected in the rules. WW2 was sort of the birth of modern infantry tactics so you shouldn't see that in a WW1 game. To be honest I've only skimmed the rules I've got though, so it might not pan out that way.

All that said though, it's not a burning passion for me at the moment anyway. Really I just fancy some trench raid stuff, so I might get both sides for that at some point.

So what counts as "finishing" Bolt Action? 1000 points?

I've got a lot of models I could paint for that, it'd be nice to get to a point where I can move to something else for a while though.

I'm aiming at 1000 points for now.

Was thinking on this, so Wes doesn't have to paint up 1000 points straight off, how about we have a 500 point tournament. Could have my 2 4'x3' tables and either play knock out or all play each other once. Might get it all done in 1 evening!

We can still aim for 1000 points but might be a bit less daunting for Wes.

Seems sensible. I'm still aiming at getting up to 1000 points myself, but that's because I want to clear the Russians off my painting table.

Just a thought though, my free unit is more significant in smaller games as it's proportionately more points as I'm effectively fielding 600 points to your 500. Having said that, the Americans get two aerial attacks for the price of one which will probably win the games for Wes if the both hit.

I suspect my bombs are proportionally more nasty in smaller games too (especially on smaller tables). It pretty much all comes out in the wash I think.

Done another ten Russians today. I've only got about a dozen left to do including a second sniper team, an artillery observer and a light anti-tank gun. I'm quite surprised at myself.

I've also played two games of X-Wing, painted the bathroom ceiling and managed another blog post. Busy, busy, busy...

Its amazing what you can fit in when you've almost retired!

I drybrushed the MP-40s on two models...

I keep forgetting to buy a black spray so I can actually paint anything at all....

After taking the car for its MOT, and going to see X-Men: Days of Incongruities Explained, I bought some more Russians. I've got some inter-war Bolshevik Militia to use as Partisans. Rather than field a second Inexperienced squad, these will actually serve as my free unit. This frees up my regulars to serve in a variety of capacities. Oh, and I've got the next seven Russians mostly painted.

I came close to buying some French Cavalry to perform head swaps on, but convinced myself that the miniatures I was looking at were a slightly smaller scale than the Warlord plastics, so they'd. Look like they had bulbous heads.

Also I considered Pete's grinning face as his 'buzz saws' tore my newly converted unit apart game after game after game...

All this means that my army can easily reach 1000 points with the models I own, but that it's rather infantry heavy. I'm telling myself that this is a good thing.

Just added that second MMG to my shopping list...