Dark Secrets in the Warp

Hello Sports Fans,

I just finished celebrating Thanksgiving. Got a nice four day weekend out of it, so right there, it was a win. That being said, it did help to remind me how much better I have it this year than last year. Last year, I was unemployed and not feeling very good about myself. Now I have a decent job, learning stuff, and taking care of my family. So much to be thankful for. I kind of wish we celebrated it more than once a year just to help remind me.

So what's up with the title? Well, it was inspired by Space Hulk Deathwing. A buddy of mine saw that he had an Enhanced Edition in his steam library and wanted to check it out. Apparently back in May, the company that made the game released an updated version of it, and gave it for free to everyone who bought the original. Sweet!

As I had, I had the new game too. So we gave it a spin. Space Hulk has always been one of my favorite PC games ever since the original way back in the Stone Age. Back when GW computer games could be counted on one hand. This current version is pretty spectacular. The level designs and attention to detail are just amazing. The new version has also optimized a lot of the code and made it run much smoother. Not only that, but they also added in new replayability content and have kept adding new things. Right there it makes me glad I bought the game and supported the company. Hopefully they are working on a bigger expansion that I can pay for. I like supporting companies that do good things for the players.

For those that don't know Space Hulk, it started off as a board game by Games Workshop. It was interesting because it could be played solo. You were in charge of a squad of terminator space marines and needed to achieve objectives within a giant space hulk (a conglomeration of space ships and other debris mushed together, floating through space). These hulks could contain valuable items or secrets from ages past, but they also held dangers, and specifically, the threat of genestealers. Genestealers are part of an alien hivemind race called the Tyranids. They infest these hulks and use them to spread themselves across the galaxy.

GW has greatly expanded the tyranid race, and specifically the genestealer side of them. They have a whole army called the Genestealer Cult for 40K (which I own). Its full of different units now instead of just genestealers. Focus Interactive (the company that makes the video game) have added these into the game and even expanded things a little beyond that. Not only are you fighting genestealers and hybrids, you are facing aberants, warriors, and broodlords.

Deathwing refers to the First Company of the Dark Angel space marine chapter. Dark Angels normally where very dark green (nearly black) armor. They are one of the original founder chapters of the space marines. The Deathwing are all terminators, and their armor is bone white. The Dark Angels have a secret that they keep from all others, and are driven by it. The game has a fantastic campaign and storyline that fits right in with this chapter and their heritage. I enjoy the briefings for each mission and the various plots that are introduced within the missions. It is all very well done. If you are a fan of the 40K lore, this game does it justice.

I've played a little bit of the campaign. It is very challenging. But the best part so far is the co-op multiplayer mode. Up to four players can join together to face the swarms of genestealers and complete the missions. The game gives you a nice choice of terminators to choose from, with lots of options to customize their weapons and traits, as well as even visual skins. My friends and I have been playing this past week and it is a lot of fun. We die about a third of the time, and are only playing on normal difficulty. All in all, we are really enjoying this updated version.

If you like 40K and enjoy challenging shooters, you need to check this one out. Normal price is only $20 on steam (you can also get it for PS4) and is frequently on sale. Great value for your money (in my opinion).

That's enough for now. I'll get back to miniature games next time. Hmmmm might have to bust out some genestealer cult models for painting....

Till next time.

Goodbye to a Legend

Hello Gentle Readers,

Two days ago marked the passing of personal hero. Stan Lee, creator of many Marvel heroes, died at the age of 95. I grew up reading comics..a lot of comics. My brother and I had started reading them when we were very young. He was the collector, and me, well I just loved reading them. They were always such a great escape. And our house was a Marvel house. Oh we got the occasional DC comic, but by and large, it was Marvel all the way. I must have seen Stan Lee's comic image a million times over the years within those comics. I'd even read the letters section of the back too. I don't think I could have separated Stan from Marvel.
As an adult, I was thrilled to see the Marvel soar in the movie theaters. You never knew if a "superhero" movie was going to do well or not. Growing up, DC pretty much ruled in terms of success. But finally Marvel got rolling well with the X-Men. All of a sudden I was a little kid again sitting there, watching my heroes come to life. And then Iron Man came out and the whole genre was redefined again. It is the Golden Age of Marvel movies. And in ever single one of them, Stan "the Man" Lee has his cameo. And quite truthfully, it never seemed campy or bothersome. It was a real joy to see him in the movie.
You don't realize how much happiness something has brought you sometimes. Stan's death really impacted me. This man, who was such an integral part of all this joy in my life, is now gone. Even though I never met him, or could say I knew him, his creations are a part of me. Reading those comics helped to define me. His passing brings me real sorrow.

Godspeed Stan.

Paths of the Warmaster

Hello Sports fans,

November already. Sheesh, where does the time go? So...what's new? Well, Orktober ended up falling really flat for me. GW hypes the crap out of it, and basically you got a "meh" value box game and a few new models. The freaking codex doesn't even hit stores until the next month?? Here is how much the universe hates me... I could have bought the codex and new cards through the mighty interwebs for a discount...but then I'd have to wait a bit. So instead, I decide to do the good thing and go to my LGS and put them on hold there. Well sure enough, they somehow didn't get their order filled. So here I am, still waiting on the stuff, and having to pay full price. #FirstWorldProblems

Why am I moaning over it? Because I was actually excited about the new codex and stuff. I really like the orks. Ever since 3rd edition came out, I loved the direction the army took. They are unapologetically brutal but in a fun way. How can you not love the orks?? So I'm just bummed that I am still waiting on the codex.

Besides that, my friend Robert has finally gotten his Vanguard stuff from Mantic! Not sure if he got all of it, because he threw in quite a bit of money for extra stuff, but hopefully he got the bulk of it. Also, the friend that he is, he apparently got me a rulebook for it! So now I'll have something more to read...on my stack of rulebooks that keeps seeming to grow.... :(

So...new orks....now vanguard....and I'm really feeling very unfocused in my hobby life. Somehow everything is shiny and catches my attention, pulling me this way and that, but never long enough to apparently do anything but buy stuff. You want to know how unfocused I am right now? I bought Solo the other day (way after it was released) and watched about five minutes of it...paused it..and then just walked away. Me...Joe Star Wars...walking away from a Star Wars movie that I've only seen once or twice. What the hell??

So to that end, I have decided that I need a project...a project that I will commit to and see through. And somehow it has to be different from all those other projects I've started and committed to. But God help me..I need this. I need to work and finish something. This hobby needs to be more than just a temporary distraction for me. So...then what kind of project? Well...believe it or not, I want to start a painting project. I feel the need to paint. I have all these lovely models...and they are grey. I want to paint.

My first and obvious thought, was to do orks. New book...tons of models, lots of options for me..so no shortage of materials...and no outlay of money. That being said, there are a few reasons not to do orks. First off, Robert has been playing them for 40K when we play, not me. So would be a bit odd to paint models and then not use them, well unless I want to play orks too..which I could...but...seems weird.

And then on the Ordo Fanaticus forum, someone posted up in the Warmaster thread. And yes, now we get to the title of the post. Warmaster. I've recently dropped quite a bit getting a few more armies in my collection, most of which are unpainted. So then the idea popped in my head...why not work on some warmaster? I've got three armies at least that need painting....and I don't need whole armies...just say a good 1,000pt starter for each one. Small models, not a huge amount of actual space to paint. Plus, once I get them done, then I'll have lovely painted forces for people to borrow.

Is this idea set in stone just yet? Nope, not at all. But it seems like a decent idea. The real issue is to find something reasonable and practical for me to do. I really like Warmaster, so painting it up should hopefully be fun and rewarding.

Another possible idea would be to paint up a Vanguard warband. But as I don't have anything for that just yet, we'll have to wait and see. Almost a shame my warmaster orcs are already painted...that would have been perfect. :)

Whelp....there's your update. I have a post in November. Yay! Hopefully this game plan actually pans out for once. Until next time...