Buildings.

I am always on the lookout for affordable buildings and have been quite impressed with the recent  trend for mdf 'flat-pack' buildings such as those by 4Ground, Battle Flag, Sarissa Precision and Warbases etc.

Warbases Stable.

Sarissa Precision Citiblock Warehouse.

4Ground Rorkes Drift.

The higher end of the market, using resin and the like, companies such as CJ's Models, Total Battle Minaitures, Architects of War and Grand Manner make amazing models but are just a little too expensive for me. Check out the awesome Dark Ages village below!

Grand Manner Dark Age Village.

Architects of War Jungle Village.

Somewhere in between you can find pmc. games - they have no online store other than ebay so the stock tends to be a little random and there is always the risk of being outbid. Having said that, most items come around again pretty quickly. The buildings are resin, sometimes based on hardboard and best of all they are pre-painted, flocked and textured!

pmc.games Walled Farmhouse.

I picked up the above 'Walled Farmhouse' the other day for about £20.00. The main entrance doors are removable, as are the three cottages and each roof also comes off. This particular building could fit into a variety of genres - I have seen them used in everthing from medieval fantasy to VBCW and WWII.

pmc.games Medieval Village set.

There is a nice selection and you can even pick up a good medieval village mix like the above for £65.00. Of particular interest at the moment, with the Dark Ages (SAGA etc) being flavour of the moment, are their range of thatched cottages, church and roundhouse. At the time of writing they are selling a selection with three varied cottages and the church for £29.99. They also have a growing range of VBCW buildings and some WWII bunkers.

pmc.games large WWII Bunker.

There is now also a new-ish company by the name of Fantascene who make a small range of reasonably priced fantasy / historical buildings that you can even get painted for you! More on them in a previous post.

Fantascene Gothic Mausoleum.

Total System Scenic also do a few bits and pieces for constructing your own buildings.

Total System Scenic 'Low House'.

This post wouldn't be complete without a quick plug for another source for cheap buildings - Dark House Games. They provide a UK source for the 'Plasticville' models. I have already mentioned them before but they are a good source for cheaper plastic modern 'Americana' style buildings.

A selection of Dark House Games 'Plasticville' buildings.

There are of course many other companies who provide building and terrain (Hovels and Monolith spring to mind) but I thought I would compile a few of the more recent ones such as those above.

Monolith Great Hall.

Warlord Games have just released a nice looking 'Ruined Hamlet' so heres hoping they continue with this range.

Warlord / Bolt Action Ruined Hamlet.

Lastly, Gripping Beast do a nice range of Dark Age longhouses and outbuildings, again reasonably priced.

Gripping Beast longhouse.

Fantascene - Pretty Girls Make Graves?

Looking for some terrain pieces on the web I recently came across a new firm called Fantascene and liked a few bits so I thought I would buy a test piece. They are a UK based family firm and have a very nice home grown feel to their products.

It a different gravey.

I settled on the 'Scabby Graves' from the Gothic / Graveyard selection. I must say I am very impressed. On many of the models you have the opportunity to get them painted for a few quid extra, so being the lazy git I am, I decided to try this out.

Insert amusing / offensive comment here...

As you can see, the result was pretty damn good! Delivery was quick and the items were well packed. Best of all they can go straight onto the table and would fit several different genres - all for £7.00+p&p. Great value.

Ruined Temple (pic from Fantascene).

The range is fairly good already and hopefully will expand and so far includes (among other things) an excellent looking 'Jungle Pyramid', a 'Spooky Church', a barrow mound, a selection of sandbag emplacements, a wall set, plinths and monuments and a Gothic mausoleum.

Jungle Pyramid (pic from Fantascene).

I highly recommend these guys - check them out http://www.fantascene.net/cart/index.php

On the Streets of Inconsequence.

My mate Rob A has started his own blog to track the progress of his long term Wild West project.

Check it out at:- On the Streets of Inconsequence



Rob has been running Wild West stuff for some time but the project faded into the background for a while. With a new found enthusiasm for the project (and some nudging from us for him to set up his own blog) he decided the time was right!

Lankhmar - The Scroll.

Date: Day of the Hare. The month of the Murderer's Moon in the summer season of the Year of the Feathered Death in the Era of Heat: 

Late Evening in the House of Mellor, Defoe, Gideon, Jacktar and Blab present

• Waiting for Peak at the House of Mellor when in match eight soldiers with an officer and a scribe who announces to all that the scribe Peak has been killed.  The officer says ‘by men in priest’s garb’ and immediately settles his eye on Blab in his priestly disguise which stands out from the scribes more monkish look.
• The officer takes him and Defoe aside to interrogate but latter emerges red faced after discovering that they had a good alibi backed up by the Scholar Teasin.
• After some argument and then debate Gideon discovers that Peak had been viscously bitten and torn and found in the vicinity of Clear Water Court.  Also that Peak had been engaged through the House to discover, and when the whereabouts discovered as in the East, to travel and recover an object called The Frenzy Bone. 
• Gideon fails at this time to get any money and Blab convinces him that the box is worth more than he'd get anyway.
• The Four retire to a nearby bar to discuss their options.
• They discuss recent events, noting the 'coincidence' of Peaks death place and the place they were to meet Hal'adziir Ral Brra'habin. Also that the tortured prisoner from the ambush had described his employer (bearing in mind he only knew what his boss had told him) as an Easterner by the name Brad'in. 

·  Blab also shows everyone the scroll:

It seems to show in pictograms and runes a history and/or mythology.  The runes are unknown but the pictures are:

1.       A very thin toothless shark like creature with fish swimming around it.

2.       The sharkish thing is thinner still, but this time talking to a great cuttlefish like thing.

3.       The sharkish goes into the oceans depths.

4.       It meets a big vicious looking whale-like creature that seems to be asleep.

5.       It takes or steals an object from the whale's temple just in front of its water spout.

6.       The Shark is now a proper shark and in a feeding frenzy eating all the creatures it meets.

A second set of pictures show:

1.       A great horseshoe shaped arena facing out to sea.

2.       A figure shaped or dressed with a sharks fin and head-dress holding an object in a ceremony.

3.       The object is placed on a plinth.

4.       This drops into the water while sharks and on shore shark shaped/dressed people go into a feeding frenzy behind it.

• Gideon puts forward the idea that they have been tricked by Ral and that he was after the object all along, setting up the ambush and that he has now retrieved it and done away with Peak.
• He then puts forward three options
• Forget everything and destroy the scroll
• See what the scroll is worth to the House of Mellor
• Visit Ral as if nothing had happened and collect whatever extra reward he has for them.
• Defoe suggests a combination of the 2nd and 3rd options. Jacktar is worried that events described in the scroll may now come to pass if they did nothing.  Gideon has other concerns, profit highest among them.
• They try the House again but it is now very late and the building locked. 
• Blab seems the worse for wear and tries to lay down and sleep in the street but the threat of having something thrown over him gets him going again.
• They go to Clear Water Court
• Entering, Gideon notes that water is being brought into what is suppose to be a well known excellent quality well court.
• Blab goes off to find Ral and hires a boy (Toc) to tell him if he has been seen and Toc points him out across the court in an eating establishment.
• Jacktar speaks to another boy and is told that the wells water has salted up and also hears of the floods in the lower parts of the city.
• They do not approach Ral but place themselves to cut off any escape while Gideon puts himself where he can be seen.  Ral recognises him and treats him like an old friend buying food and drink for them all and suggesting they meet up next day to both sort out their extra reward and to safely sell the papers already in Gideon's possession. 
• He also tells Jacktar when asked that the man he was suppose to meet has not turned up after leaving a message at Three Bridges that they would meet here.  He also when asked gives the name of the seller Pettious Peak.  Jacktar feigns ignorance and offers aid in finding him.
• General conversation through the night reveal that there has been flooding for a few days now in some lower parts of the central city and a drunk says he was chased by eels coming out of one of the flooded areas.  Clear Water is not the only well that has been salted.
• Blab feeds the boy and hires him to follow and watch the Easterner tonight and tomorrow.
• Unable to get any money they eat and drink well and return to Pecan's Livery Stables to spend the night.

 
Date: Day of the Minnow. The month of the Murderer's Moon in the summer season of the Year of the Feathered Death in the Era of Heat: 

Morning in Lankhmar, Defoe, Gideon, Jacktar and Blab present

• It is wet, hot and heavy storms can be heard in the distance but getting closer.
• The party return to the House of Mellor to try and sell the scroll.
• They again meet Scholar Teasin and are shown into a meeting room.
• After some ado they discover that the document is written in an ancient sea speech and that the rites, invoking a rabid-like feeding frenzy that would increase until cannibalism ensued, would if carried out be quit deadly especially in a crowded place like the city. 
• Blab suggests only half laughingly that leaving the city might be the best option.
• When asked if the scroll was needed to carry out the rites he said no, only knowledge of their content, the Frenzy Bone and salt/sea water.  He calls the sharkmen 'Homalin' and says that a alter that drops below water level as in the pictures may help.
• They also find out that Peaks patron went by the name Krasspin Sscreeh and fitted the description of the pursuers of the night before.  When asked if they smelt of fish he said Sscreeh wore a whale skill cloak and never showed his face, not to mention the strange hissy speech.
• He then completes the purchase for the scroll at a better than fair price for Gideon although Gideon stipulates the free includes access to the scroll whenever he requires it.
• They also discover, in talking that the flooding in the lower part of the city has indeed lead to eels entering the streets and yes indeed a number of wells have salted up in a line heading back in that direction, Jacktar looks worried.
• Outside Gideon has changed his opinion of Ral’s compliance in the proceedings especially when Blab reminds him that the sand sharks where after Ral. The new culprits are almost certainly Sharkmen.
• At mid-morning they move on to Clear Water Court to meet up with Ral.
• Toc says that Ral has spent all morning in that same eatery as before and that the girl had been shopping in a local cloths bazaar.
• It is hot, and the approaching storm beginning to feel oppressive.  They feel hungry.

Tomorrow is the Eel Festival a carnival lead by a great eel puppet (similar to a Chinese street dragon) and ends in a great sea food feast after a ritual eel catch in the North Harbour. This will be the main topic of conversation in the bars and streets, that, and the rabid eels now infesting the flooded areas of the city and heading toward the harbour.

Most of the crew have family in the city and that its mercantile well-being is what pays your way.

Lankhmar - Into the City.

Date: Day of the Hare. The month of the Murderer's Moon in the summer season of the Year of the Feathered Death in the Era of Heat: 

Late Morning on The Eel Run

• Retiring from the ambush the Sulaco returns down river for a stretch then turns back on a different route.  The corner to the adjoining river is sharp and Muddy points out an undefined silhouette passing over the ridge line of the intervening arm of land.  Blab remembers what he saw up the mast and tells everyone it is a Shadow Hound.  No one knows what a Shadow Hound is and Blab refuses to elaborate.
• As they pass the mouth of Fin Creek and enter the Moat Muddy notes that the river here is a little dank, under coloured as if affected by something.  Blab and Gideon show a lack of interest and push on quickly.
• The crew head up the Moat and into their hidden tunnel.  As they pass along the dark tunnel they hear a splash as of something moving the entrance covering to gain access but nothing is actually seen.
• Blab has the idea of putting a coracle on a rope with a light behind the Sulaco to see anything following them but to no avail.
• The normally fast current seems sluggish and everyone notices the salty smell as they moor even though in a freshwater stretch of water.
• Blab  scouts up into the city checking out the street and returns with some priest-like robes.
• Blab and Gideon go check on Pecan and his family getting the usual tongue-lashing from Gideon's sister Herisent. 
• Without gathering any local information they formulate a plan whereby Gideon and Jacktar would venture forth first, keeping to the main roads and Defoe and Blab would follow up, Blab having the box and presumed target. 

• The first group head out wearing the robes and move along Carter Street toward the intersection with the Street of Gods.  They are soon spotted and in turn spot three separated 'figures'  They appear hunched yet stand over 6½' tall and seem to carry a considerable bulk under their cowls.
• Gideon and Jacktar nip into the nearest alley and two of the figures move to follow showing that they each carry long staffs covered in rags.
• Gideon and Jacktar double back and Defoe moves to support them meanwhile Blab rushes past.
• Defoe follows the figures back to a new temple building on the Street of Gods which all the figures and some from the over direction enter.  Gideon and Jacktar catch up and all three go on to the House of Mellor to find Blab.
• The four meet up and empty box (it held something called 'The Frenzy Bone') or not they demand the remainder of their fee.  Teastin says he will be happy to pay it when Peak arrives and can verify the deal. 
• Its late evening, the sun has disappeared and the temple crowds are slowly dwindling...

Runequest - Broo.

Broos, otherwise know as 'Goatkin' or 'Beastmen'.

These are creatures of Chaos, twisted hybrids of men and beasts. They are the Beastmen of legend and engage in the foulest practices, worshiping the 'Unholy Trio' - Ragnaglar, the Mad God, Malia, the Goddess of Disease and Thed, the Goddess of Rape.

Mongoose Broo.

Most often they are human bodied and 'goat' headed, they are tied irrevocably with the Rune of Chaos. They are known to indulge in atrocities and foul practices and carry with them numerous loathsome diseases that they themselves are immune to. It is hard to say anything positive about broos. They have none of the savage nobility of Trolls and their personal habits are despicable. It is unlikely that anyone would have anything but antagonistic dealings with them.

Early Citadel Broo Boxed Set.

They will occasionally hire out for pay and carry various weaponry and armour, usually cuirbolli, spears and swords but will use whatever they can steal or capture from raids. They are seldom seen near settled lands unless it is to raid and pillage, but are as common as nomads in Prax, even more so in the Wastelands. Often feared, folk may even treat with them rather than fight if they think they can.

Citadel Compendium Broo.

On sighting men, broos typically either flee or attack based on their estimate of the opposition, though they may well taunt and posture at a distance to prove their courage to companions. When raiding, the broo rely on stealthy ambush, covered by darkness or undergrowth.

Armorcast / Lance & Laser Broo.

Several miniatures manufacturers have produced Broos or Beastmen over the years with Citadel's Runequest range from the early 80's being the most obvious. A few boxed sets were released, including 'Attack of the Broo', 'Broo' and 'Broo 2'. They also sneaked a couple in the 'Beastmen' set. This excellent range was later added to with several blister packs. In the mid 80's, presumably due to the licence running out, the Citadel Broo morphed into 'C27 Chaos Beastmen' as seen in the Second Citadel Journel of 1985. The Beastmen were slowly adopted as an offshoot chaos army and this has developed over time including an appearance in the 'Flames of Empire' Mordheim supplement. The current Games Workshop Cloven Ones / Beastmen range is quite broad and they even have their own army book!

Later Games Workshop Beastmen.

According to the Warhammer Fantasy world the Beastmen race (also known as the Children of Chaos) are a race of humanoid monsters. A fusion of animal and man that invaded the world when the old ones opened the warp gate at the far north of the world: their bodies are tough strong frames layered in knots of muscle. The tangled fur of Beastmen are matted with dried blood, filth, dirt and dung that nest countless varieties of ticks and fleas: as a result of this, Beastman live in a state of countless agitation and rage always seethes in the heart of every Beastman. Ram-like horns emerge from their goat-like heads (However Ungor Beastmen only have small stubs of horns), their mouths are chasms of sharp rotted teeth for tearing flesh and the feet of all Beastmen are cloven hoofed. The very stench of any Beastman is enough to make even seasoned warriors gag; their brays of bloodlust and the gleam of malice in their dark animalistic eyes can unsettle even the staunchest of troops.
All Beastmen are spiteful and mean-spirited creatures that revel in bloodshed and chaos and loathe order and the very concept of civilisation in all its forms. Beastmen are not creatures of nature for there is nothing natural about their existence. The Herdstones and rituals of the Beastmen corrupt the very essence of nature itself: it is for this reason Beastmen are especially loathed by the Wood Elves of Athel Loren who the Beastmen have been fighting a long gruelling secret war with for centuries.
For the purposes of Warhammer Fantasy Battle they are subdivided into various levels reflecting their appearance, prowess and ability in battle.

• Beastlords are the largest and most brutal they command the beast herds.
• Wargors are second in command to Beastlords.
• Bray Shamans are the spiritual leaders and advisors to the herd leaders. They are also powerful spellcasters.
• Bestigors are the most heavily armed and armoured Beastmen and rate as elite units.
• Centigors have the upper body of a Beastman and the four-legged lower body of an oxen.
• Gors and Ungors make up the majority of the infantry units or "Beastherds." The Ungors, however, due to their more human appearance (in comparison to other Beastmen) and smaller horns, are on the bottom of the herd hierarchy.

A mixed warband of Broos.

Armorcast took on the old Lance & Laser Heroquest range and this too contains some decent Broo minis, some with the usual Goatkin look and a couple with a slightly more bestial countenance. In 2006 Mongoose took over the Runquest line and released several books and supplements and also produced their own small line of Runequest miniatures to support the RPG during their period of MRQI and MRQII. Among the figures on offer were a decent set of traditional 'goat' headed Broo rabble.

Foundry Beastmen.

More recently, Wargames Foundry have started releasing their own Beastmen range with several packs of 'Brutes' and 'Younglings' available. These are definately in the GW mould (excuse the pun) but have some great looking figures to boost any Broo warband!

Figures are a mix of Games Workshop, Mongoose and Citadel.

Zombie Shop.

A shameless plug for a brilliant idea by Zombie Ad! I can highly recommend this.
Check out his Zombie Shop.