2022 Miniature Projects

So it seems I have way too many projects and I can't seem to focus on any long enough to complete them. That said, in the latest White Dwarf mag, they had a 2022 painting bingo card and so I plan to use this as a template to push myself to get some projects completed. Obviously I will not include the Nighthaunt that I've been working on as they are so quickly done and over with that it would just be cheating.

Instead, I will dedicate it to working on things like my Soulblight Gravelords and that Christmas themed faction I talked about before. Through this I hope to complete both factions by the end of the year.

Of course, I still will be working on other projects for Malifaux, Moonstone (whick I am so far behind in) and Burrows & Badgers. As for any other miniature games, I guess I do need to get back to work on some Marvel Crisis Protacol, but we'll see what 2022 has in store.

Honestly, I just hope I can get at least half these miniatures done as 2022 doesn't seem to look to be any better compared to 2021.

A More Festive Project Idea for 2022

So 40K has left me rather mixed as to whether I want to get back into it or avoid it all together. However, I have been watching the 40k in 40 minutes series on the Play on Tabletop YouTube channel and they did a festive battle of Santa Wolves (Space Wolves) vs The Toy Empire (Tau) and while I really enjoyed it, I felt that a few converted models could have added to it. Then I remember that one battle report on the Angry Joe channel where a few Nurgle units hadan Xmas them and the Space Marines I believed were wearing Sombreros.

So I though, why not do a small Xmas army as a complete goal for 2022?

This would have some obvious ones like a converted Logan Grimnar on Stormrider and Fenrisian Wolves (the wolves all being replaced by the Stag models from the Wild Riders kit, the Cyber Wolf upgrade being a Rudolf conversion). A Techmarine being the lead Toy Maker and a Wulfen Dreadnaught having a sort of building block colour design with a Nutcracker soldier hat to be his bodyguard.

Wulfen I may convert as living killer Snowmen, while those like Infiltrators and Eliminators might be hinding in Xmas trees or Presents. I guess another troop choice could be Assault Intercessors, who could have a green and white colour scheme while HQ choices would have red and white, perhaps with a blue or black shoulder with a white snowflake design. That said, a Chaplain might be a blue or purple armour and would be the one riding a bike (possibly designed with a gingerbread theme for the bike).

Still lots of options for festive designs and conversions, plus points should be around 1,000 to 1,500. This way I have some limits and can slowly add those miniatures over the year as no doubt I'll get some from the Imperium magazine the should be out here in Australia in 2022.

I don't want to get caught up or bogged down on these things.instead, I just want to work on something fun, but also something that won't consume my time and focus. Looking forward to see what I can come up with.

Update: So thinking back on this, I may have pushed myself into looking at too many models instead of the slow build up I'm wanting. For example, I should scrap the Chaplain idea and instead turn the Dreadnaught into gingerbread. I'll go back over my ideas and try to simplyfy them.

Quick Thoughts on Sonic Trailers

Sonic 2 Movie Trailer

Loved it. Yeah, I had hoped they'd move more away from Earth and focus on Sonic's homeworld more, but it's Hollywood and that's to be expected at this point. That said, the trailer gave a good enough outline of what is too be expected from it and to have Robotnik and Agent Stone back together will no doubt have the best human interaction scenes. Can't wait.

Sonic Frontiers

Have no idea what this trailer is about or what the game is even about. This trailer gives me nothing to hook me in and it just feels disappointing. Given what info I can find about the game from more official sources, it hasn't improved my opinion on it. There are so many questions I have and problems about it that I'm keeping my opinion low, may be out of desperation that I want to be proven wrong. 

Down for the Holidays

 So I've been pointing out here and there about a physical condition that was making life a little more difficult over the last few years. Well, that situation has now been corrected as I am recovering from nasal and sinus surgery. As such, it is a real pain to deal with as it needs regular management to stop infection and to recover, which isn't easy as I still can't breath through it yet and splint still needs to come out.

As such, I'm staying with family while I recover and won't be back home till after Christmas. I'll still do an update here and there, but projects are on hold till I am well enough that I can get regular sleep again. 

My opinion of the term 'Canon'

So today my twitter feed was caught in a set of discussion over what is considered 'Canon'.

So Canon is a word used to describe what is considered to be official in things like Characters and Story in a particular franchise/show/book etc.

For some, what is official canon is considered to be sacred and anyone doing anything that goes against that is therefore a target of ridicule. This becomes more problematic when there is more then one creator/writer and the longer it goes the more changes occur, which in turn splits a fanbase further.

Then you have those who believe their own canon should be the official one and attack anyone who disagrees with them. This too becomes worse when that person also has a following of people who agree with them.

A good example is the Sonic fandom, a franchise that by this point has so many different versions of the characters and lore that it can be very difficult to navigate at times. Then when those at the top change things around preferring one version over another, it can become hectic. Given how long it has gone for and how many versions there are, each new one has new fans which can result in conflict with older fans. It was bad enough with the whole 2D vs 3D argument, but when you get into Characters, Lore, Shipping etc. you find where the fan base it truly divided.

So where do I stand on what is canon and what isn't?

Simple:

Multiverse

Yep, I love the idea of multiverse theory and how many franchises tackle the issue.  I'm a strong believer that in every franchise, every universe of characters and story are but one of many. Sure, the owners of said franchises may have their official canon, but from that a multiverse (or alternative universes) begin to exist through the creativity of fans. Their characters, their stories, exist in an alternate universe and everything that exists in it is its own canon. Nothing can change that, though the original franchise owners may try to deny its existence or even destroy the multiverse, in truth, they really can't. The fandom creates its own and that alone justifies their existence. 

In a way, the official canon is still the official canon, only those who own those rights can alter with it. However, every fans work exists in an alternate universe, one that only they can shape and it is part of a much larger multiverse. It would mean that you could do what you want with your universe without it upsetting someone else's universe. I imagine that if people gave up on trying to justify what they believe is officially canon and just accepted that their canon is officially an alternative universe canon, it might stop at least a part of every fandom from going at each other.

Well, I hope. Humans are only human after all.

Quick Review: The Hero Quest Collection

So I pre-ordered this like, last year I think and it was meant to come out mid this year, but was delayed due to a plastics issue I believe. Finally got it late last week, so what did $300 AU got me?

So straight off the bat, it was more then I though it was. The game itself is mostly the same as it was back in the late 80's/early 90's, with some changes. Some models have been renamed or replaced entirely, most likely due to Games-Workshop and their aggressive trademark control. So things like Chaos Warrior are now Dread Warrior and Fimir replaced as Abomination. A number of designs have also changed a bit, with the Gargoyle changing to a more generic demon look as the original was more akin to GW's Bloodthurster.

Then we have the issue with the main characters. Changing the skin colour of the Dwarf I can understand, but the Elf becoming female is a little more confusing. My general opinion would be to supply both a male and female version of each character for more variety. In fact, if you got the collection box that I did, then that's exactly what you got. Why did they not include it in the main game is beyond me, though that said, my female barbarian did not fair well with my order. Heck, it looks like they even tried to super glue her together badly before shoving her back in.

Poor pic, but bent sword, arm not connected and white glue stains around that area

While I don't have my original game manual on me (it and most of the original game is in a box some where), it does look like it is a similar game format with one player being a Dungeon Master and up to four player heroically entering to battle evil. Don't hold me to that though, I'd suggest looking and some other more in-depth reviews for that. However, all the original cardboard furniture and doors are now all resin, so that's a bonus over the original.

Also with this game came the two re-masted expansions (I never got the original ones back then), but also an extras box. This kit came with three more campaigns, a couple of new monsters and a few more hero options: Male Orc Bard, a female Warlock (counts as wizard hero for weapon, artifacts and equipment), a Wizard option who is a Zargon model (the main bad guy), a female Durid, gender swaps for the main four heroes and a final hero model which there is no info on the set for. From what I've gathered, these were all part of the add-on tier list that was unlocked through extra funding (think kickstarter), but still no info on the hero guy holding a torch.

While I am disappointed over the busted Barbarian model I was sent, the rest of the game looks good. It certainly was a major nostalgia trip for me as the Original HeroQuest game was my first ever miniature game and it was ultimately what drove me to miniature wargamming in my latter teenage years, so to see it return once more is a real pleasure to see. Can't wait to see people play this one.

Quick Reviews: The Dark Crystal Adventure Game

 

So despite the release date being in February next year, this one showed up late last week. Having read through it a few times, I think I have a good overall opinion of it.

The games story takes place after the Age of Resistance Season 1 (because the morons at Netflix would rather dump amazing award winning shows like this to produce cheap crap. Some people have no taste). You are one of a number of Gelflings called through one of a number of reasons to the Mystics, who have had a vision of a great calamity of Thra, most likely due to the spread of The Darkening. They have tasked you and your companions to recover a seed from each of the seven great trees that will save Thra from this fate in the long run. Time is short and failure is very much possible.

Game wise, like any RPG, one person is the Game Master (a.k.a GM) who will craft the story of the adventure, while the others create a Gelfling to embark on this epic quest. You can pick from any of the seven Clans, each with their own Clan Trait with each having three additional traits that can be learned (you start with one of these) and yes, with the exception of the Drenchen Clan (who are focused on being underwater), all females have wings and can fly (so long as they aren't carrying a more heavier load). Skills exist as categories with each one having three specialization. So say you pick to learn a Fighting skill, you need to pick one of the specializations, those being Finesse (dexterous combat), Marksmanship (ranged combat) or Ferocity (forceful attacks and heavy weapons). From what I've gathered, you can choose more then one specialization too, so you could learn both Finesse and Marksmanship, though having a more diverse set of skills is more preferred. You start with two Skills already learned. This is then followed by a Flaw (both for story and gameplay elements) and finally The Summons (so what brought you to the Mystics).

So lets take my first character as an example (based on how the book explains it to me):

------------

Clan: Dousan (spiritual desert clan)

Clan Trait: Dousan (good at finding water and desert survival)

Starting Trait: Dream-etched Tattoos

Starting Skill 1: Scouting - Sneaking Specialization

Starting Skill 2: Agility - Reflexes Speciaslization

Flaw: Timid

The Summons: Amnesia

------------

So my Gelfling character has sort of wandered into the situation suffering Amnesia and his Timid nature isn't helping his situation. Sneaking and Reflexes are also helpful for enhancing this characters personality. At some point I want to have an air of mystery to this character so that further down the adventure this will be addressed as part of the adventure. Now just need to name him.

Back on topic, for the GM there a basic maps of the locations, including some main points and what Darkening effects may take place (The Darkening can make the campaign harder if you prefer it). There are also a list of various animals/enemies and a few extra bits thrown in. Combat is simple for the most part, though some enemies will be rather challenging. There is a type of NPC Gelfling creator for the GM if they are having a little trouble. Honestly, I've never been a GM, so I am unsure what is useful and what is needed. 

As a big Dark Crystal fan, this sort of was a must have for me and overall I was happy with this book. I would have preferred some more detail on things like Gelfling Clans, names, symbols and meanings etc. to help better flesh out characters, but there is enough material out there that GM's and Players can use to enjoy the immersion into the world of Thra.