Thursday, January 27, 2011

The A-to-Z (almost) of non-GW, but cool, miniature suppliers.

I'll be editing this post to make the links more uniform in appearance and have better descriptions as the mood takes me, or as I run across different miniature companies in my websurfing. 

[url]http://www.3t-studios.com/[/url]Scratchbuilt terrain and tables
[url]http://www.amera.co.uk/[/url] Vacuform terrain with fantasy, modern, and future themes. really cheap too.
[url]http://www.antenocitisworkshop.com/[/url] Some neat stuff in his store in terms of 40k terrain and modeling.
[url]http://armorcast.com/store/index.php/[/url] Lots of Terrain and some tanks, their models and Steampunk stuff is okay
[url]http://www.avatars-of-war.com/[/url] So. Amazingly. Beautiful. If you play Fantasy, you owe it to yourself to take a look at these models for your lords or heroes; they have at least one model for virtually every faction and they are all gorgeous..
[url]http://www.back2base-ix.com/index.php/[/url] They have a decent range of resin bases, although nothing that blew me away, but they are at least alternatives to some of the others out there. They also sell a variety of other craft supplies, including plasticard, movement trays, basing supplies, and even GW/FW product.
[url]http://blackcatbases.com/[/url] Despite the name they sell more than just bases, although they certainly have a good selection of those; they also do heads, conversion bitz, and especially accessories for figures, like weapons, tools, backpacks, etc.
[url]http://www.blackscorpionminiatures.com/index.php[/url]  Random minis, ton of pirates.
[url]http://chapterhousestudios.com/webshop/[/url] Custom Sculpts and Bits for 40K and Fantasy.
[url]http://www.comfychairgames.com/catalog.php[/url] Mostly a Horror-based Necromunda, but the W.i.l.d.fire robot spider is kewl
[url]http://www.copplestonecastings.co.uk/range.php?range=FW[/url] From Gang Warfare to Terrain and historicals. You have to click each link to see the miniantures, though.
[url]http://www.darkswordminiatures.com/[/url] Miniatures from George R. R. Martin's Song of Fire and Ice, There's plenty of interesting stuff in here, although most of it doesn't quite fit the Warhammer "Heroic Scale" aesthetic.
[url]http://dragonforge.com[/url]  More useful for the micro chain and ready to use power cables than anything else.
[url]http://www.ebobminiatures.com/products/tools.htm[/url]  Tools, armatures, sculpting media
[url]http://www.ema-models.co.uk/Architectural[/url] and Hobby model parts and supplies, including DC motors and gearboxes
[url]http://www.em4miniatures.com/acatalog/index.html[/url] Not a huge line of stuff and only tiny, tiny pictures available, but their range of metals seems to have some interesting options.
[url]http://www.empressminiatures.com[/url] Some historical and modern figures, very realistic.
[url]http://www.eurekamin.com.au/[/url]  They make all kinds of miniatures, including Nazi's riding dinosaurs.
[url]http://www.evergreenscalemodels.com/[/url] Do you need plasticard in odd shapes or sizes, or want something patterned, or otherwise odd? This may be the place for you.
[url]http://www.evilmushroomgames.com/new_page_2.htm[/url] Not a huge selection, but some pretty okay bases and a number of interesting terrain pieces.
[url]http://www.ex-illis.com/[/url] Angels and Demons take sides in historical medieval Europe.
[url]http://www.figurines-studio38.com/default.html[/url] Tyranid Spore Pod and their own ranges of figures.
[url]http://www.forgecraftgames.com/catalog/index.php[/url] Perhaps a little smaller than some of the other base manufacturers, but they have a good selection and all of the casts are excellent, both for wargaming and for tabletop minis.
[url]http://www.gamezoneminiatures.de/[/url] A wide range of our 1/5 inch (28 mm) fantasy miniatures.
[url]http://www.grindhousegames.com/[/url] On the one side, we have a weird-WW2 thing with gas-masked allies fighting German monstrosities. On the other side of the site, we have weird robots.
[url]http://www.groundzerogames.net/[/url] I have some of their models, but their online store is hampered by an extreme lack of photos
[url]http://hasslefreeminiatures.co.uk/index.php[/url]  Great detailed Fantasy, Sci-Fi, and Modern miniatures.
[url]http://www.heavy-support.com/[/url] Heavy Support - Not much here, just an alternate Leman Russ/Chimera
[url]http://www.helldorado.fr/figurines/index.php[/url] A French game, but available through some US (and potentially other?) retailers. They have an absolutely gonzo line of models, with everything from Chinese hell-demons to abominations of the pit to Arabic summoners to Victorian mercenaries. No idea how they're scaled, but some very pretty stuff.
[url]http://www.heresyminiatures.com/[/url] For when you need a unique looking miniature for your Inquisitor Reitnu.. Hey, is that David Tennant?
[url]http://hitechminiatures.com/#[/url] Some could-be Grey Knights and Draedknight here.
[url]http://www.hlj.com/index.html[/url] A lot of mecha and tank parts that are of use to a creative IG or Ork player, so maybe search around a bit.
[url]http://impactminiatures.com/[/url] Many Blood Bowl-like miniatures and a stand alone game, plus a a rock band of Orcs.
[url]http://www.infinitythegame.com/infinity_ENG/[/url] A standalone futuristic game akin to Necromunda, the models are pretty nice looking but not much cheaper than their 40K equivalents, which has kept me out of the game so far.
[url]http://www.irondogstudios.com/store.html[/url] Some Orky bits and resin bases from the guy who built the Tater Titan
[url]http://www.ironhalo.net/store/catalog/[/url] Another resin base retailer, they do some interesting lines and actually have a quite large selection of stuff. They have a lot of more unusual base sizes including those for Fantasy, War Machine, cavalry, etc.
[url]http://www.kabukimodels.com/[/url] Resin and metal alternate Marine character models and bits, some larger scale models too.
[url]http://www.kerrandking.co.uk/[/url] A nice-looking site in a lot of ways, but awkward to browse through. Still, it's not completely awful and the bases all look rather nice, including a few more unusual types.
[url]http://www.lead-adventure.com/[/url]Some Steampunk and Post-Apocalyptic figures plus heads with tophats.
[url]http://www.lostclan.net/Lostclan/Home.html[/url] Home of the infamous Female Cadians, and also a bionics upgrade sprue.
[url]http://www.manticgames.com/[/url] An excellent manufacturer who is not only creeping in on GW's territory but also putting out a game of their own, heavily modeled on WFB. Their undead, elf, and dwarf kits are all very strong and have a decent variety of pieces, poses, etc, not to mention worlds cheaper than GW's kits.
[url]http://shop.masq-mini.de/[/url] Masquerade Miniatures, notable for horror gaming figures and a 'Giant Riding Wolfpack' not-Thunderwolf Cavalry.
[url]http://www.maxmini.eu/store/[/url] A nice little company with a quickly expanding line of conversion bitz as well as a few useful figures; their Thunderwolf is not completely awful, but there's probably better options. They do have a nice IG-scaled bike, though. Their conversion parts are the real treasure, though- they have an extensive line of awesome Ork parts (heads, bodies, bionics, etc) as well as a variety of other weapons, shields, and various upgrade parts.
[url]http://www.shop.microartstudio.com/index.php[/url]  Mostly known for their "mechanicus" guard and some cool heads.
[url]http://www.miniaturescenery.com/[/url]  They make hardboard "punch out" scenery. Nax got me onto them recently.
[url]http://www.mrdandy.com/wargamma/[/url] Thunderwolves, bases, etc.
[url]http://mythicast.com/[/url]More Thunderwolves and even Cyberwolves for your Iron Priest
[url]http://www.oldcrowmodels.co.uk/[/url] Manufacturer of near-future/sci-fi models, with a strong emphasis on vehicles, spacecraft, and field works (turrets, walls, scenery, etc).
[url]http://www.paulsongames.com/resin.html[/url] Another small manufacturer, but does a nice little line of conversion bits.
[url]http://www.perry-miniatures.com/index2.html[/url] A nice historical wargaming company that produces large boxes of figures for fairly cheap; they're mostly useful to Guard players as stand-ins, but be aware of the usual differences in scale between 28mm and heroic.
[url]http://www.pig-iron-productions.com/[/url] Ah, Pig Iron, beloved of Guard players everywhere. Not only do they have their own line of figures, the heads (and much of the other gear) are perfectly fitted for IG models.
[url]http://www.plastruct.com/Pages/USDealers.html[/url] A very nice plasticard company that apparently supplies a rather large percentage of the US, as well as one of the companies I've dealt with personally. They have a PDF catalog with approximately one million different types of plastic in it; if you're willing to dig, chances are you can find what you want. Of note is their fluorescent acrylic rods, which are perfect for Necrons should you, for some reason, decide to hate yourself.
[url]http://pulp-city.com/index.html[/url] Pulp superheroes miniatures. Either you'll be super-excited that these exist and you can buy them or you won't care because they aren't what you need.
[url]http://www.pulpfigures.com/[/url] Just what it says. Nefarious Chinamen! Doofish henchmen! Dashing adventurers! Probably not appropriate for 40K or Fantasy! But still cool!
[url]http://privateerpress.com/[/url] Obviously also their own game, but several of the Cryx (Warmachine) miniatures could make good stand-ins for Dark Eldar units and Legion of Everblight (Hordes) provides some interesting possibilities for Tyranid players.
[url]http://www.quantumgothic.co.uk/[/url]  A lot of neat scifi terrain.
[url]http://www.rackham-e.com/en[/url] Makers of several miniatures games including AT-43, a prepainted future game with military gorillas. Let me repeat that: armed gorillas in space are a real thing in this game. If that isn't enough reason for you to be curious, I hate you. Some of their mecha have been converted with reasonable success into Killa Kanz by a number of folks.
[url]http://www.ramshacklegames.co.uk/nuclear/index.html[/url]  Fulfilling that Post-Nuclear/Necromunda/Orky Bitz. Look at their 'Tridlins' for vehicle bitz
[url]http://www.reapermini.com/[/url] If you have ever wanted a figure for your D&D character or fancy monster the PCs are facing, this is the site for you. They have an absolutely enormous range of tagged, searchable models of all manner of heroes and horrors. Their modern and sci-fi lines are much more limited, but there are still possibilities in here. (The Darkspawn in particular could easily be some kind of alien or Tyranid beasties.)
[url]http://www.resinfx.com/[/url] Very detailed resin bases of various kinds, many of them fairly unique. Lots of "scenery" bases that aren't just some bumps on a standard 25mm/40mm circle, so if you're looking for something damn fancy, this may be the place. A little more pricey than most as a consequence, though.
Robogear Model kits - Want some cheap plastic toys to chop up for your conversions? Here's the place.
[url]http://www.iconusa4.com/online/Robog...dels_index.htm[/url]
[url]http://www.sciborminiatures.com/[/url] Can't say for sure, but the pics of the sculpts look amazing. Various minis and parts, very obviously 40K/Fantasy-themed ("celtic space warrior," hrmmmm?) including lots of alternate heads, shields, and breastplates. Also squats.
[url]http://www.secretweaponminiatures.com/[/url] Mostly just bases, but a few conversion bitz mixed in (backpacks, helmets, Extra Armor). None of them are ground-breaking surprises, but if you have a specific look in mind for your army you'll probably appreciate another option.
[url]http://www.shadowforge.com.au/[/url] Have I done any Australian companies yet? Here's one with anime-styled figures.
[url]http://www.smog1888.com/[/url] You know how some games have crazy character models? Smog has a flying doctor with robo-arms and a smoke-belching stove-top hat, oh year. I know absolutely nothing of the game, but the models are perhaps the best thing in the whole world.
[url]http://www.studiomcvey.com/[/url] A small selection of extremely well-sculpted minis, although they're generally just a bit too large to use in 40K. Pretty, though.
[url]http://www.taban-miniatures.com/[/url] Another of the shops I haven't really browsed in extensive depth, they produce a stand-alone game with a vague gladiatorial combat theme.
[url]http://www.tabletop-art.de/[/url]More bits, bases and variant figures for Marine Character models.
[url]http://www.tabletop-world.com/index.php[/url] Fantasy buildings and accessories
[url]https://www.thunderboltmountain.com[/url]  Mostly fantasy, but I bought some wolves from them.
[url]http://www.tobsen77.de/index.php?lan=en[/url] Vehicles that would look good in an Ork army, or a wooden Steam Tank
[url]http://trollforged.com/index.html[/url] Another company I can personally vouch for being pretty excellent. Resin casts of several useful styles of models- Daemons, beasts, definitely-not-Tyranids, and best of all, Guardsmen with greatcoats!
[url]http://www.ultraforgeminiatures.com/[/url] If you aren't going to Avatars of War for your Fantasy needs, you damn well better be going here. Ultraforge specializes in huge, detailed models of monsters like dragons, greater daemons, and the like, and their work is second to none. They also enjoy cult popularity as the makers of an excellent set of wings that can be added to models that are in need of flight, not the least of the Hive Tyrants and Harpies.
[url]http://www.urbanmammoth.co.uk/[/url] I have some of their older models for my Necromunda gangs
[url]http://www.victoryforce.com/[/url]  They have a 'Gamer Rules Lawyer' figure, and WWII re-enactors
[url]http://shop.warlordgames.co.uk/[/url] Not sure if these are the same guys as Wargames Factory, but if you want to 40K-ify some historical plastics.
[url]http://www.wargamesfactory.com/webstore[/url] Makers of a variety of plastic kits, all of them competitively-priced compared to the alternatives. Foremost on the list would probably be their zombie and shock trooper kits, but they also have a variety of historical minis that could be integrated into a thematic force of some kind.
[url]http://www.wargamesfoundry.com/asp/nocookie.asp[/url] Lots of miniatures, but not to scale with 40K. Diverse selection, though.
[url]http://www.westwindproductions.co.uk/[/url]  These guys have alternate-future WWII scifi stuff. Some cool mech thingies and neat troops.
[url]http://wyrd-games.net/shop/home.php[/url] Makers of Malifaux, a very cool-looking game that I unfortunately can't really afford to get into right now. But, like Hell Dorado, they have an awesome line of minis with a style all their own, slightly steampunk with a fantastic twist and some of the dark sensibilities that infuse GW's games.
[url]http://www.zuzzy.com/[/url] Scenery pieces and tabletops almost exclusively- and pretty nice ones, at that. If green felt isn't your thing, give this a look and see if you can't go for something more exotic; I'm told they are rather durable and quite worth the price.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Seattle GT: Game 1 vs Tau

Time for the battle reports for my Immolator Spam at the Seattle GT last weekend.

Here's my list:
 214 HQ - Canoness w/Book of St Lucius, MeltaBombs incl 5 Celestians w/2 Melta
        in an Immolator wImmolator Tank w/Extra Armor, Smoke, Searchlight
 474 ELITE - 3x 5 Celestians w/2 Melta in an Immolator Tank w/Extra Armor, Smoke
 210 TROOP - 3x 5 =I= Storm Troopers w/2 Plasma
 565 TROOP -IG Infantry Platoon: Command + Al'rahem w/3 Melta in a ML/HF Chimera
        2 Squads, each w/Melta & Autocannon,  2 ML/HF Chimeras
        2 Special Weapon Squads each w/3 Melta
 318 FAST - 2x 5 Dominions w/2 Melta in an Immolator Tank w/Extra Armor, Smoke, Searchlight
 219 HEAVY - 3x Immolator Tank w/Extra Armor, Smoke
2000 points.

..and here's what it looked like:
[IMG]http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd162/frowbakk/Seattle%20GT%20Game%201%20vs%20%20Tau/001.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd162/frowbakk/Seattle%20GT%20Game%201%20vs%20%20Tau/002.jpg[/IMG]

My first round opponent was Bentley Pascoe, a longtime Tau player, and 40K Tournament Judge at some events, like TSHFT coming up the first weekend of March.

I'll edit his list in here later.

Here's what his army looked like:
[IMG]http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd162/frowbakk/Seattle%20GT%20Game%201%20vs%20%20Tau/029.jpg[/IMG]

They had the scoring sheet printed on the back of the scenario, so you couldn't keep it.  Thanks to the wonders of technology, however...
[IMG]http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd162/frowbakk/Seattle%20GT%20Game%201%20vs%20%20Tau/003.jpg[/IMG]

I chose one of the IG Autocannon gunners (who looks like Vasquez from Aliens) to be my messenger model. 

I won the roll off to go first, so I deployed in my usual way, ready to pop smoke on the sideways tanks in front providing cover to all of my Immolators as Al'rahem's IG outflanked. 
[IMG]http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd162/frowbakk/Seattle%20GT%20Game%201%20vs%20%20Tau/004.jpg[/IMG]

Then the Tau seized the initiative (insert sad trombone sound here), and took his first move.
[IMG]http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd162/frowbakk/Seattle%20GT%20Game%201%20vs%20%20Tau/005.jpg[/IMG]

Here's the results of his shooting phase, one exploded Immolator, and two weaponless and immobilized Immolators in the front row.
[IMG]http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd162/frowbakk/Seattle%20GT%20Game%201%20vs%20%20Tau/006.jpg[/IMG]

Then in his Assault phase, Bentley jumped back behind his lines.
[IMG]http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd162/frowbakk/Seattle%20GT%20Game%201%20vs%20%20Tau/007.jpg[/IMG]

So, since I had two bunkers in rapid fire range of the Objective, I had two units of ISTs bail out and swap rides with the two Celestian units, belatedly advancing under cover of smoke.
[IMG]http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd162/frowbakk/Seattle%20GT%20Game%201%20vs%20%20Tau/008.jpg[/IMG]

Top of turn two, and Bentley lines up his suits to maximize his shooting...
[IMG]http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd162/frowbakk/Seattle%20GT%20Game%201%20vs%20%20Tau/009.jpg[/IMG]

..shaking two, destroying the turret of the third, and wrecking the fourth Immy not-so-protected by smoke.  In the bottom of the picture you can see the ISTs and Celestians swapping rides.
[IMG]http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd162/frowbakk/Seattle%20GT%20Game%201%20vs%20%20Tau/010.jpg[/IMG]

Then the Tau suits jumped back in the assault phase.
[IMG]http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd162/frowbakk/Seattle%20GT%20Game%201%20vs%20%20Tau/011.jpg[/IMG]

Al'rahem and his IG arrive, Outflanking on the left.  I brought in the two Infantry Squads as a blob to provide extra ablative bodies for Vasquez.
[IMG]http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd162/frowbakk/Seattle%20GT%20Game%201%20vs%20%20Tau/012.jpg[/IMG]

Taking over the IST Immys, the Celestians move to midfield.
[IMG]http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd162/frowbakk/Seattle%20GT%20Game%201%20vs%20%20Tau/013.jpg[/IMG]

In the distance, Al'rahem takes out one devilfish, but fails to do more than stun the second.
[IMG]http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd162/frowbakk/Seattle%20GT%20Game%201%20vs%20%20Tau/014.jpg[/IMG]

Top of turn three, and here come the Tau...
[IMG]http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd162/frowbakk/Seattle%20GT%20Game%201%20vs%20%20Tau/015.jpg[/IMG]

...with some Outflanking Piranhas to help contain the IG infestation....
[IMG]http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd162/frowbakk/Seattle%20GT%20Game%201%20vs%20%20Tau/016.jpg[/IMG]

...wrecking one Chimera, stunning Al'rahem's ride, and gunning down two Special Weapon Squad girls.
[IMG]http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd162/frowbakk/Seattle%20GT%20Game%201%20vs%20%20Tau/017.jpg[/IMG]

In the center of the board, Tau shooting shakes every Immolator, and immobilizes the one next to the center objective.
[IMG]http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd162/frowbakk/Seattle%20GT%20Game%201%20vs%20%20Tau/018.jpg[/IMG]

Then the Tau assault...
[IMG]http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd162/frowbakk/Seattle%20GT%20Game%201%20vs%20%20Tau/019.jpg[/IMG]

...Immobilizing one Immolator and wrecking the other, which would have been a perfectly placed bunker for the ISTs.
[IMG]http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd162/frowbakk/Seattle%20GT%20Game%201%20vs%20%20Tau/021.jpg[/IMG]

Meanwhile, both Special Weapon Teams get assaulted by Gun Drones...
[IMG]http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd162/frowbakk/Seattle%20GT%20Game%201%20vs%20%20Tau/020.jpg[/IMG]

...and get stuck in combat with the ninja frisbees for the rest of the game.
[IMG]http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd162/frowbakk/Seattle%20GT%20Game%201%20vs%20%20Tau/022.jpg[/IMG]

Bottom of the turn, and I can[U] finally[/U] get some of my (non Outflanking) models past the halfway point on the board. I Tank Shocked the HQ in the center, but misjudged the angle and clipped the Shas'whatever who had the melta, exploding an Immolator.
[IMG]http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd162/frowbakk/Seattle%20GT%20Game%201%20vs%20%20Tau/023.jpg[/IMG]

I  also tank shocked into a unit of Firewarriors on the left, but with all of the Immolator turrets out of action or destroyed by this time, it's nowhere close to dishing out the holy Promethium like it should.
I do kill a couple of battlesuits with meltas and bolters, though.
[IMG]http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd162/frowbakk/Seattle%20GT%20Game%201%20vs%20%20Tau/024.jpg[/IMG]

I then charge into assault with my Sisters who only fired their meltas, since time was running short (both Bentley and I had cases of the dreaded slow player-itis this game) to try and tarpit them away from the center objective.
[IMG]http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd162/frowbakk/Seattle%20GT%20Game%201%20vs%20%20Tau/025.jpg[/IMG]

Top of the turn, and here come the Kroot, right in Al'rahem's face.  One of the Kroot was the messenger model for the Tau...
[IMG]http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd162/frowbakk/Seattle%20GT%20Game%201%20vs%20%20Tau/026.jpg[/IMG]

...and the Kroot charge in with predictable results.
[IMG]http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd162/frowbakk/Seattle%20GT%20Game%201%20vs%20%20Tau/028.jpg[/IMG]

While I manage to tarpit the HQ, the lone crisis suit on the right kills one Celestian, and the girls fail their morale and run, letting the lone suit jump-consolidate on top of my wrecked Immolator to contest the center objective just as "dice down" is called.  The game ends in a tie, with my 12 points to Bentley's 13.
[IMG]http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd162/frowbakk/Seattle%20GT%20Game%201%20vs%20%20Tau/027.jpg[/IMG]