Distraction Tactics

I think I may need to rename the blog. Yes, I know, I only started it less than a month ago, but as the hobby butterfly strikes, so does the blogging butterfly.

If you read my first post here, you'll note I started this as a 40k exclusive blog, mostly to track painting a Nurgle Chaos Space Marine army for the Independent Characters Hobby Progress Challenge. Already I can see this is too narrow.

Here's one reason why:

Stay on target! Stay on target! Or not...

And another:

I've been pulled through the breach, I'm afraid...

In short, I thought I was getting back into 40k. WRONG! And this is why the internet sucks - there's literally so much cool stuff out there I'm missing out on!

In all seriousness though, 40k is a daunting game. Not from a rules perspective necessarily, but from a sheer quantity standpoint. The first part of the HPC is 1000 points, conforming to the Zone Mortalis force organisation chart.

My list has a Chaos Lord, 2 units of Plague Marines, 2 units of Cultists, a Helbrute and a unit of Terminators. That's seven complete units, with 41 models all told. For a 1000 point list. So, half an army, give or take, depending what points level you play at.

For one thing, that's not cheap (especially when you decide to buy Forge World bits for them). For another, that's a ton of models to paint. A thousand points of Imperial Guard, Tyranids or Orks could easily double that model count.

To get those 41 models on the table-top, I need to:

• Buy,
• Assemble,
• Prime,
• Paint.

That'll take a while. Months, probably. That's a significant barrier to actually playing the game. I decided I couldn't wait that long to play. I needed a gaming fix, and quick.

That's where X-Wing and, to a lesser extent, Malifaux come in. I picked up the X-Wing Core Set from my LGS (Heroes & Legends in Surbiton) on Friday and played my first game of it on Sunday. Minimal assembly, no painting. Not to mention it's got superb, simple mechanics and is really fun to boot!

I'd been vaguely aware of Malifaux for a while, but never really paid it any serious attention. Damned GW blinkers make it hard to see sometimes... but on discovering the new plastic kits last week, I knew I was going to be dropping some cash on a couple. 

And yes, Malifaux requires assembly and painting, just like 40k, but take the fact that the new plastic crew boxes can be played out of the box as a complete force, and I'll only have to paint six or seven models to get a game in. I'm eagerly awaiting my M2e Rulebook (Valiant Wargames have some in stock, miraculously) so I can read up on the fluff and pick a faction, master and crew.

Drool...

So, looks like I will be forced (yes, forced) to expand my writing horizons with posts about at least two other game systems. 

My thinking is Hobby Progress Challenge coverage for 40k, games and battle reports for X-Wing and (Ed: this may be too ambitious) a new player's guide to Malifaux, from a new player's perspective. 

Plus other stuff as and when it comes up, obviously!

See you through the Eye of Terror! Or through the Breach, or in a galaxy far, far away...

The Scribe

PS: And to top it all off, I can't even stay focused on one 40k army either! These guys say hello: