Update on my content and future direction

This is the hardest post I've had to write in a long time.

As anyone who follows me will no doubt already be aware Privateer Press announced Mk4 for Warmachine.

Warmachine has been my "main" game for the last 10 years or more, so obviously this is a big deal.

My local meta however has been shrinking since Mk3 launched, we tried so hard to reinvigorate it, with a mix of competitive and casual events and leagues. However, for various reasons too numerous and complicated to get into here we haven't been able to grow the game.

Unfortunately, the announcement of mk4 has sealed Warmachines fate in my area, no one I know is planning to play it anymore.

Over the last 6 years, I've been retraining to get myself out of a cycle of dead-end jobs. I completed my degree late last year but it meant my hobby budget has been almost nonexistent the last few years relying on my generous Patrons and Twich subs has been the only thing keeping me limping along.

So when my marriage ended just over a year ago it wasn't the best for me financially or emotionally.

Now, as I have a kid I have to pay the costs of a multi-room home for when shes with me, but a portion of my income obviously goes to my daughter via her mum. (As it should do) 

All of this combines to make it so I simply can't afford to buy into a game that doesn't have an active player base in my area.

I don't say any of this for sympathy, nor am I asking for help. I just feel that the people who have supported me over the years or read and enjoyed what I do deserve to at least know and understand where I'm coming from with my choice.

Going forward I will not be reviewing any new Privateer Press minis as I have no plans to buy them, I simply cannot afford to spend on a game that isn't being played near me.

I will continue to paint up the stuff I already own, this includes the following large projects:

I will finish painting my Gators, the bulk of this army's troops come from the Widowers Wood game, so I have no plans to get rid of this army as there aren't as many minis in it and they will be useful in the IKRPG.

I will finish converting and painting my custom Pirate army. I will also keep this, as there are so many custom minis in this army and they work so well for IKRPG (which I frequently set in Five Fingers)

I will create the dioramas I have had planned for years (follow my Patreon to see the teaser mock-up pictures of these upcoming projects)

I will finish painting the rest of Riot Quest. This is essentially a self-contained game, which I already play with non wargaming friends.

I have small amounts of minis from most factions, mostly old or damaged models other people didn't want which I plan to paint up for use in the IKRPG. I still plan on finishing them.

So in terms of my content going forward, there will be a change, although not too much given how few tactics articles I've managed to write since my life has been a mess...

While I'm on the subject of articles... I had so many wip articles. Due to my dyslexia it takes me ages to write them,,, and given how I pretty much only get comments on posts when I make a mistake it is demoralising to get my only comments to be about SPAG (spelling and grammar) so I take even longer to make sure they are perfect. This has led to many many articles never being finished and for that I'm sorry. As these all revolve around mk3 rules and tactics they will never be finished, it just isn't worth it to spend the time writing about the previous edition.

Going forward I'm choosing not to care about spelling and such though!

And finally my Cygnar army... this has been a tough one for me.

It's a complicated mix of issues for me... With no one to play against and my financial issues not getting any better lately I feel more and more conflicted about keeping hold of them.

Every time I look at them I feel depressed as I poured so much of myself into painting and converting them, writing about them, and discussing their tactics and uses with you all online for countless hours.

I have been thinking about this a lot over the last few months and I've decided I need to let them go...

It's a truly huge army well over 400 models most of them painted. I think it's about 1400 points?

It's likely the most photographed (and shared online) Cygnar army in the world! Or at least I imagine so...

If you would like to own this army and give it the home it deserves, as well as own a piece of my heart please reach out to me via any social media platform. Retail value is over $4000 apparently! (Don't tell my ex-wife!) I know no one would give me that much for it but anything I can get is better than nothing as I've bills to pay and I feel I need it gone to be able to move on emotionally.

Oh and if someone does want it and wants the last Morrowan models painted to match the rest of it I would be happy to discuss that.

I hope this post finds you well. Happy wargaming, and I'll see you soon.

Model Review: Dreyfus & Flubbin Storm Patrol

Today we take a look at Dreyfus & Flubbin Storm Patrol who are a Scout/Guard class heroes in Riot Quest and a Mercenary/Minion solo which is also partisan for Cygnar in Warmachine and Hordes.

They come in three metal pieces

Dreyfus's body is the main bulk of the model, with attached blast/jet/cloud effects to attach it to the base. I will paint these to match the ones I did for Flubbins base. The suit of armour is an upgraded version of Dreyfus's first version including leg mounted booster jets. 

It has a very large attachment point with a long slot to place the upper body and arms onto the lower body. I found this connection to be good and didn't require pinning.

Dreyfus's upper body is nicely detailed and also includes Flubbins feet. Sadly the voltaic lance is slightly bent, I was careful when straightening it as there is always the chance it could snap when doing so. 

Here you can see the oval attachment point for the jet pack and Flubbin.

Flubbin and the jet pack are nicely cast and she matches the look of her previous version nicely.

And here they are fully assembled.

Scale shot with Professor Pendrake.

And scale shots with their previous versions.

Dreyfus got a little bit larger in scale which makes sense otherwise Flubbin would make the model feel very top heavy.

Flubbin got a little bit smaller, but she was pretty big for a gobber in her first version.

This model is nicely cast with very few mold lines and went together really nicely. 

It has a really nice dynamic flight pose which really sells the 90s cartoon kinda look.

I'm not a huge fan of how it looks in the context of my Cygnar army but it will be a fine addition to my Riot Quest collection.

If you want to support my content consider taking a look at my Patreon which you can find here. I don't put any content behind a paywall but I do offer rewards to people who support me in ways like getting to vote on what content I work on in the future or outright just picking the next subject of an article as well as some wip content.

Even if it's just $1 it really helps me out!

See you all next time!

Order of Illumination Resolutes Painted

My push to finish up projects which have been work in progress for way too long has been going pretty well! I've been letting my Patrons pick what I work on which has been helping motivate me and "stay on target" 

Currently I'm working on the choices they picked for me (Totem Huntress, Feora4, Meckanoshredder & a Donkey). If you want to help pick what I work on next and support me at the same time you can find the current poll here

So both my units of Resolutes are now finished and it's been a long time coming! I'm really happy with how they turned out and that they match the previous Morrowan things I've painted.

This was one of my first times painting round "gems" like this. I'm pretty happy with how they turned out. 

I really link the way the glowing runes on the sword turned out. I'm going to try and replicate this on the Vigilants when I get round to painting them.

I really like the grunts armed with the guns, I think they look really cool. 

Using money from my generous supporters over at Patreon I purchased a rotating display stand. I like to put the money from supporters back into improving the content I make.
I'm hoping to get better at making these over time, one thing I know I want to save for is a better camera (I currently use my phone).
Please let me know what you think of this addition to my painted model articles.
If you like it please like, comment, and subscribe on Youtube it really does help with letting Youtube know it's a video worth suggesting to other hobbyists. (And it upsets Mike...)

If you want to support my content consider taking a look at my Patreon which you can find here. I don't put any finished content behind a paywall but I do offer rewards to people who support me in ways like getting to vote on what content I work on in the future or outright just picking the next subject of an article as well as posting wip projects.

Even if it's just $1 it really helps me out!

See you all next time!