To think like an Ork - Kommando style

I have spent the last few days messing about with a project. I know, we all love a good project. In this instance the DarkTemplar sent over an inspiring picture.

Inspiring picture

Needless to say this sent me scurrying into the garage for my' Ork bitz boxes'.

Bits

I just thought the idea was amazing. You can see how any Ork Kommando would think this a superb idea. I was hooked instantly. And so it was that I started to delve into the deep recesses of the 'bitz box' to find the necessary elements.

The start

Before I knew it I was hacking open a barrel and making holes and generally sizing it all up. I would have to make it all look credible. The arms and head needed to be in right places to make it believable and then the legs could be assembled such that a slow shuffle was possible. The 'low to the ground' approach. It was bonkers and very exciting.

Getting a good head was also an important feature. You needed to know there was an Ork in there so no helmets allowed.

Head

I chose an open mouthed head with visible eyes and got to painting. I wanted the hole at the front to be just big enough to see flesh, eye and teeth.

Testing

He had instant personality and so I got to thinking about who this character might be. The story of Ned Kelly the famous Australian bushwhacker came to mind. Ned had a final shoot out with police in which, when they finally captured him, he was wearing a home made, bullet proof, set of armour.

Ned Kelly amour suit

Suddenly my Kommando had an accent. He was saying 'ga day mate' a lot and I contemplated calling my new buddy Ned. But well an Ork called 'Ned'? I'm not sure.

Anyway I thought to myself that any Ork of standing would insist that the barrel be painted red - everyone knows 'red ones go faster' and so I set about introducing a bit of colour.

Shoota

Choppa

It has been a joyful project and its one of the things about this hobby that really makes my juices flow. A mad idea that you just have to throw yourself into. He will be on a battlefield near me very soon!

Painting Tau

Well here goes. I had painted up some five fire warriors and a couple of gun drones using my normal method. Generally this works out as the base being PVA, apply sand before the first undercoat in black. Next is 2-3 layers from dark to light, followed by a wash, another highlight and finally some detail. I find it works for me and gets me to a playable quality.

However the world has moved on, as I discovered on a recent visit to the Games Workshop.

Colour chart

I had good fun with the woman in charge as she explained how it all worked. Before I knew it I was a fair few quid lighter and marching back to the car to try out some of the ideas. I even downloaded the Citadel Painting App.

To start textured bases - this was completely new to me. I found myself wondering what quantity to use. I had even bought a plastic applicator. This is what I went with in the end. I tried a few models including the base for the Recon Drone.

New basing

And I waited for it to dry wondering if I had made a mess of it...

Interesting outcome

This wasn't quite what I was expecting but hi ho. We soldier on.

I undercoated and waited for everything to dry.

In the mean time I tried the new colours on one of my older models.

Base layer

I have purchased a base layer, wash and two highlights for the tan colour scheme and the blues for the face. I first applied the base colours and then followed up with the wash.

The wash

It all looked a bit dark but I could see how things were working. After some time I went on to the first high light. I then picked out a few details here and there and it was coming along quite nicely.

Old and new together

Coming along

I am pleased with the progress and the desert type feel to the bases. I might try and add the odd tuft of brown grass or something. Overall though, I am quite enjoying the new painting methodology. I think they will look good on the board.

It feels good to be working on a completely new army using unfamiliar colours and methods.

Tau

Oh was just looking at the world wide web last night and stumbled into this...

Bad Ass

https://wargameexclusive.com/product-category/greater-good/

Yip I want one but do I needed one....

Just outstanding.

Tau Kill Team

Many years ago I was tempted to have a look at Tau in Warhammer 40k. I even purchased a box of troops and half assembled them but then we moved on to new thing and they were left in a box and worked their way to the back of the garage......so many unfinished projects.....

This Christmas we were talking about Kill Team and how it would be nice if we all started a new army/team that was the opposite of what we usually play.

I am an Ork!! Tau seems like a very different concept and the plan was hatched.

Its here - Tau

I finally got around to placing an order and the postman did his thing as a result, a new project is born. I know nothing about Tau. Nothing!

The box I had were Fire Warriors, what arrived in the starter kit were also Fire Warriors which was tad annoying anyway....

Painting

My first decision was colour scheme. I looked around and there were a lot of options. I hate the white and after some thought I decided to go old school  yellow/brown option. I played around with one of the drones until I had something approaching what I had in mind.

Troops

I started to work on some of the Fire Warriors, the ones with the pulse rifles first and I was suddenly enjoying myself. I had a look at the basic rules for Tau and noted that there are lots of weapons and drone types so I paid a visit to the local Games Workshop store for a chat. The was a youngster in the shop painting up a Tau Kill Team squad. He had just played in a competition with them so I sat back and was educated. Always good to get first hand knowledge.

I purchased some Pathfinders to give me more options and I got into a discussion about paints and basing and Oh My things have moved on. I made some more purchases and now I look forward to trying out the new tips. Base coat, wash, highlight and edge is the new mantra. Lets hope it turns me into a proper painter. Where there is life - there is hope ;-)

Helen High-water

I have noticed that people have been asking for Helen and I had taken a few shots. In truth she did not cause me as much problems as she did to Mike. She did entice some of my people away for a little frolic, but no-one died. Alain De La Slaugher met his end with this lady in the final game - to everyones enjoyment!

I love the whole Les Dawson, hand pushing the boob thing.....

The Babe - Helen

A couple of other shots.

What are they afraid of?

And...

Oh my - am I the last person standing?

A day of gaming that will long live in the memory!

Its been a while. We have been playing board games and not so much war gaming. Little painting is happening and I am pretty OK with that. But today is different!!!!

This weekend though is the trip to Awdry Towers. Now you just know that this is going to be something extra special. It always is!!! The trouble that Michael goes to is unsurpassed. The models are sublime. The table a thing of joy and the detail, well the detail is just off the chart.

We had been sent our homework. The game is a crossover Witchfinder and Donnybrook with a very huge element of 'Awdry'. A combination of dice and cards and planned to be utter fun based narrative type stuff. I was just bursting with excitement. I awoke a good hour before the alarm clock and was ready to leave much earlier than planned, but I had to wait on the arrival of the Dark Templar. I was struggling to contain myself. Anticipation was off the chart. We drove down to Awdry Towers (an hour), parked up and walked to the house. I glimpsed the board though the front window and Oh My God!

Michael had just excelled himself. Truly.

I am sure the welcome was fantastic and I hope I was not too rude as I manoeuvred to see what the day would bring - just amazing.

I have taken far too many pictures and they don't do the piece of art that the table is any justice but I will share anyway.

The board

Michael supplied everything, the board, the models, the dice, the tea's, the food ...... everything.

Basically the villagers are about to be over run by ghouls and all kinds of ungodly foulness. We are set up on the outskirts of the village with field, roads, hedges, a wheat field, river and a working windmill!! The blades actually go around.

Windmill complete with a tied up Windy Millers daughter

So much to take in. A total joy to play on, but the detail ..... man oh man. My first 'jaw drop' was when I realised that there was a fox in the wheat field which actually had a rabbit in its mouth, I mean come on.

Well fed fox

And then there was the scare crow....

Scare crow

Did you spot the rats? I mean surprises around every corner and there were tonnes more, I promise.

But you gotta love this. The Witchfinder General has obviously been busy!!

Amazing. And just for fun.

We had a shepherd and a flock of sheep, in the background. No reason. Not part of the game. But just there to add layer of interest.

Shepherd and sheep

I played the 'bad guys' in the first game. My hero 'Alain de la Slaughter'!

Evil personified

Ably supported by...

Supporting cast

The Guardsmen of Bling Obedience marching with the guns and The Doom Riders mounted on horseback.

Nice field of fire from the bridge

Can you see how well painted the models are? I mean can you? I wish you could hold one in your hand. They are exquisite!

Gareth of Oldham and his trusty hounds

Gareth of Oldham and his hounds. Notice the babbling brook in the background. Sweet!

Ghouls

A band of Ghouls that were just a joy. Each one was fantastic with loads of unusual detail. Stunning, I mean stunning.

The detail

We should speak of chickens. For many years now we talk of units that run away. It follows them, always. The yellow stripe, the chicken. Once a unit runs it is never forgotten.  Don't care how hard they are, if they run they will be known 'ah thats the unit who ran from my grots when .....' It's a thing. So how could the master enter into the spirt of this gaming lore ? ..... I give you the yellow chicken!!!

Yellow chicken

Units that become 'shaken' and run away need a token. Michael had only gone and made some chickens, yellow ones, to act as tokens. Well I just lost it. I thought that this was the funniest thing I had come across. And it was fantastic to see them in play. And when they 'rallied' it was - take that chicken away!!

Look it was an amazing day. We arrived early and stayed late. We laughed and laughed because the game play just worked so well. The narrative element was key. It was chaos and it was meant to be. You thought you were doing well until your world fell a sunder. This is not competitive gaming, this is fun for the sake of fun with a top quality entourage. This is living life, this is a man putting on a gaming day that anyone on the planet would be privileged to be a part of. This, my friends, is Awdry Towers, a place to be revered, with a host that is generous and welcoming and has prepared to a level of detail that will blow your mind!

I thank you Michael for a spectacular day, well done sir!!

Mobile, hostile, agile

So now to weaponry.

I am starting with my Leader and  contemplating what direction to take.

I think of him as my main support. I have given him Commanding Presence so I see him traveling with a group and shooting. I don't want him in hand to hand really.

He starts with a BS of 3+

A the beginning I gave him a Shotgun with salvo and scatter. I wanted him to have something with a bit of punch. The salvo rounds have a range 12" with a S4 doing D2, causing Knockback and it is Rapid Fire (1) which gives the potential for more damage.

Shredder is a Template weapon causing D6 wounds but only has a S2. I see it being good in a crowd to maybe pin a few people and then use Group Activation to really cause a bit of chaos.

Going forward I have been thinking about a Boltgun. The Boltgun is S4 with a range of 24". Its short range is 12", so decent, and there is a +1 modifier to Hit making it a 2+ to hit on the move. Aim gives a +1 modifier to Hit. This means that even at distance it can be a 2+ to Hit provided you stand still and make the Aim.

Boltgun

The main downside that I can see is the 6+ ammo check roll. There is a 1:6 chance of failing an ammo roll and then you would need to roll a 6+ to get ammo back. These are not good odds.

I would need to have a decent second weapon in reserve. Maybe I should keep the Shotgun?

I don't fancy giving him Heavy Weapons because it would change the play style and I have two Champions already so they should be up to that task.

The Grenade launcher looks cool and could be a good second weapon, giving lots of variety options.

Plasma weapons with scarce - hmm. When they run out of ammo thats it for the game. Can't be reloaded. High risk.

What about a close combat weapon? In the old days the trusty Power Sword was always sought after. There is much to consider.

Each character can only have 3 weapons. I wonder if grenades are considered to be a weapon? I like the idea of chucking a grenade when things are getting too close and then running away ;-)

All thoughts and suggestions welcome.