Order Sergeant Oh So Fancy

Another One Down
     Progress! As yet another week passes, I have another figure done. While I took the week (not solid) to complete this figure, I did show him some extra love.  With his slick and dynamic pose, cool and unique helmet,  and bad ass looking rifle, how could I not?  I am beginning to get my eye in on these Infinity models.  The fine details are and conventions are all foreign to me, but after three models completed, I think I understand what I'm looking at and how I want to paint the different bits of the model.

What's Next?
     Still four models remain from my Infinity stuff.  Once these are complete it will be time to return to the Sisters of Battle.  I must admit that my time away from the hobby is at least partially because of the Sisters.  Painting those old metal models in bulk is like a long roam across a parched featureless desert with endless dunes seeming to repeat forever off beyond the horizon.  I must charge on and find the end to the sands, perhaps these Infinity models were just the oasis I needed.

Here are some additional pictures of the completed Order Sergeant:

All My Paints Are Dry!

Back in the Saddle - Hobby Pledge

     It has been ages (approximately two years) since anything has been posted up here.  It's a shame.  I really enjoyed blogging my hobby through the years and I feel it's time for a return to form.  There came a time where I thought to myself "if I died tomorrow, who would paint all these stupid miniatures?  Not my three year old, that's for sure.  Besides I've seen him color... I can't let that happen to my beloved minis."

     With the image of my child's seemingly fever dream inspired scribblings being applied to my most precious resin figures, I made a vow then and there:  I will paint something.  More than that, really, as I've decided to make steady progress, blocking out time and keeping myself honest.

Canoness from a Sisters of Battle army I'm working on (Warhammer 40k)

Realistic Goals

     Now I'm certainly no stranger to the hobby game.  I've painted my fair share of the minis so I've learned a thing or two.  Like the Sun Tzu of painting (hyperbole fully engaged here) I arise from the wreckage of projects past, wisen and worn by time and countless samey metal models.  I know the taste of sweet victory but more importantly I have supped enormously at the table of defeat.  I've got to tone this down. A bit.

     Returning to Sun Tzu (briefly, I promise), and his oft quoted statement of knowing thy enemy, the same holds true when trying to establish a hobby pledge or goal or what-have-you.  The enemy, as in most goals you might have in life, is typically yourself.  Know your weaknesses and play to your strengths.  Here are the elements of my plan:

• Mix it up - For me this means a variety of models to break the chain of monotony.  I have a breadth of models in my inventory now, and not being afraid to shift gears completely will keep me mentally engaged.  Getting bored of painting usually has more to do with the process than it ever is about the outcome.  We all typically revel in the product of the process, sometimes obsessively so.  When you're batch painting Orks though, the light at the end of that tunnel can seem very dim indeed.  Variety  will correct this and it also neatly brings me to my next point.

• Small Batch - I used to paint batches of ten.  I then reduced that to five.  I might even further reduce that (at least temporarily) yet further still.  What small batch or single model painting loses me in efficiency it gains back in focus.  It's easy to be excited about the next model when it's only a single night's session away.  It's almost like (and I hate to use this analogy) chain smoking.  I'll be "riding the buzz" of completed models, pressing me onward to initially completing squads to eventually completing armies.

• Scheduled Sessions - Model painting certainly isn't my only hobby.  Primarily I'm a PC gamer at heart.  Often times in the past I would choose spending time in a video game over painting quite readily.  Who can blame me, really?  Video games offer typically instant satisfaction.  Painting is no doubt a hobby that requires more patience but does not only offer a healthy dose of satisfaction and accomplishment at the end of a model, but also the physical manifestation of your dedication.  To ensure that I'm not placing my hobbies in competition with each other, I've decided to dedicate portions of a few nights a week to hobby progress.  That means those times not scheduled as such can be turned over to video games, the odd video program, or more hobby (should I choose).  Don't force yourself to constantly have multiple hobbies duke it out for attention during your free time.

War Jacks from a Cryx starter set (Warmachine)

Going Forward

     I hope that I can use this blog to keep myself honest, post what progress I've made on a weekly basis, and perhaps spark some conversation with people stopping by.  I'll be streaming on Twitch from time to time, I'll be sure to post that here when I do.  I sincerely enjoy sharing my knowledge of the miniatures painting hobby with newcomers so feel free to ask me any questions concerning the hobby you'd like.  I'll try my best to answer in a timely manner, pointing you in the right direction.

Pictures of my Progress

     I've babbled on at length, time to get to the point and show what I've achieved in the last week.  I've completed two models from the table top game called Infinity (think Xcom + Ghost in the Shell) by the company Corvus Belli.  I've had these models assembled and primed for about 4 years now so it was about time I put paint on them.  I hope you enjoy them.

More to come...

We are the Dice Gods

The Dice Gods are coming!

     Some say they aren't real.  Some say it's all about averages.  It takes those that live beyond the averages to know, in their hearts, that the Dice Gods are real.  The twists of fate favor the bold, but just as quickly they can teach a memorable lesson in humility.

What are we about?

     Greetings dear readers!  You've found The Dice Gods.  The current list of contributors includes Kris, Sam, and Ash.  All three of us aim to deliver content pertaining to table top war gaming.  We'll likely focus on 40K but we're all about trying out various games within the same arena as the Games Workshop monster.  The list of other games includes Warmachine, Hordes, Firestorm Armada, Battletech, and Infinity. That's not all, we intend to mix in some other games that people in the traditional war gaming community might not either be accustomed to or haven't had table time with like Heroclix, Super Dungeon Explore, and many other yet unnamed games.  We're going to try and expand what people might consider for their own tables.  This is a glorious time to be in table top gaming.  Numerous companies are out there with innovative new games, amazing models, and it's ripe for exploration.

What makes you different?

     What we will start with, here on this blog, is a simple editorials, reviews, or tutorials that might be thought provoking, insightful, or useful.  Eventually we have plans to expand to video battle reports, podcasts, and much more.  We want to improve on what has been done before.  We'd all like to build the community up, looking for the positive angles, and seeking to focus on the entertainment factor of these games.  We play because it's fun, not because we want nothing more to win at a game of toy soldiers.  We want something with more meat on the bones.  That means narrative games, expansive campaigns, and just general alternatives from the "out of the box" games.  We hope that you'll join us and help us along the way, because your feedback, your input makes a difference.  Should you choose to, we can turn your efforts into something bigger that gives back to the whole community.

Stay tuned...