Welcome to the second part of my irregular Supplemental Series, dealing with my headfirst dive into Flames of War.
As of last time, I had played a couple of test games, gotten a 'basic handle' of the rules, and gotten my hands on some models.
I took an immediate shine to the tactical nature of the game. I really liked the different scale, as 15mm models on a 6x4 foot table, combined with the in-game effects of long range shooting, concealment, etc, makes for...well, more 'thinking ahead' than I was used to with 40k.
I guess I'm one of those guys that's a sucker for cool, interesting terrain, as well...I just never knew it.
I mean, seriously- lookit THIS:
*this is like Flames of War porn for me*
Oh my goodness...Flames of War is bonkers with terrain!
You wanna lot of it? Do it!
You want next to nothing? Desert Scenario! Do it!
Pfft!......awesome, is all....no excuses necessary here.
As I've mentioned previously, the emphasis with Flames of War is on the Tabletop, and the terrain it's played on reflects this.
I've definitely found that this 'realistic method' of building a gameboard prior to play adds an extra level of fun to the battle.
It's kinda cool to build a little 'town,' with a river (yes- there's WATER in this game!!!!), a bridge and some fjords, leading to the village proper, surrounded by some fields and a forest.
One road leads in, and one road leads out....
The road is lined with the infamous hedgerows known as 'bocage,' cuz...well, cuz it's awesome...and Ambushes (yep- got special rules for those too!!!) are mad scary, brothers and sisters.....
After yer done building yer little village, you get to roll for mission and sides, so it's in everyone's interest to make the board not just cool to look at, but balanced.
It works out pretty well.
Since my last FoW post, I've gone ahead and built and painted some of the models.
Umm...look- I DID mention that the emphasis in THIS GAME was on the Tabletop, didn't I?
Don't get me wrong- the models are cute, and highly detailed, when assembled and painted.
For example:
You wanna lot of it? Do it!
You want next to nothing? Desert Scenario! Do it!
Pfft!......awesome, is all....no excuses necessary here.
As I've mentioned previously, the emphasis with Flames of War is on the Tabletop, and the terrain it's played on reflects this.
I've definitely found that this 'realistic method' of building a gameboard prior to play adds an extra level of fun to the battle.
It's kinda cool to build a little 'town,' with a river (yes- there's WATER in this game!!!!), a bridge and some fjords, leading to the village proper, surrounded by some fields and a forest.
One road leads in, and one road leads out....
The road is lined with the infamous hedgerows known as 'bocage,' cuz...well, cuz it's awesome...and Ambushes (yep- got special rules for those too!!!) are mad scary, brothers and sisters.....
After yer done building yer little village, you get to roll for mission and sides, so it's in everyone's interest to make the board not just cool to look at, but balanced.
It works out pretty well.
Since my last FoW post, I've gone ahead and built and painted some of the models.
Umm...look- I DID mention that the emphasis in THIS GAME was on the Tabletop, didn't I?
Don't get me wrong- the models are cute, and highly detailed, when assembled and painted.
For example:
*Late War Germans- Tiger Tanks and...Pumas, I think?*
Like most things 'Hobby,' the results you get are directly related to both your ability and willingness to spend the time required to make your vision happen.
This is true with Flames of War models as much as any other models anywhere.
No, I like the way the finished product looks...
It's building them that drives me nuts.
I swear...I've built five Tiger 1E (late) Tanks now, and each one tried my patience.
I've never 'Rage-Quit' my beloved hobby desk before, ever.
Those models made me do it.
I literally said, 'Screw this! I'm outta here!'
....to a 15mm Tank Model.
It beat me.
-_-
Did I mention that a lot of Battlfront's minis don't come with instructions, even?
I had a hell of a time using the diagram I found on their websit to build my Bergepanzer recovery vehicle, for instance.
I was NOT a happy camper.
Even less happy when I look at all the extra parts in my 88 Platoon box, that look like something cool that I have NO IDEA WHAT TO DO WITH.
It's a well established fact that the Panzer IVH from Battlefront is a nightmare, due to the sideskirts.
Fortunately for me (and you, and everybody, really), there are alternatives available with THIS GAME.
Oh yeah- you heard it right...you can go and get 15mm WWII models from OTHER COMPANIES, and play them anywhere, even at 'official' events.
TAH-DAH! How cool is that?
So I'm buying my 15mm Panzer IVH's from The Plastic Soldier Company.
I've already got their Troopies, which are awesome-130 dudes for about 30 bucks!
Half-Tracks should be available here in the USA soon, and Stugs and Panthers by Christmas.
By next year you'll be able to field a big German Army for cheap! And all in friendly plastic.
You'll still need some 'official' models, like Cannons and other sundry specialty stuff, but the core of your force (tanks, troopies and half-tracks) can come entirely from the Plastic Soldier Company.
Three Cheers!!!!!
Of course, Battlefront will still make plenty of money selling you the Rulebook and several 'Army List' books (probably a bunch of those, cuz they keep releasing new ones) and their terrain is lovely, of course....you'll want those special markers, dice and other goodies with your army's logo on it, and there's a Wagames Illustrated Magazine that comes highly recommended (I haven't checked it out yet, White Dwarf has scarred me for life)...you get the point....
From what I understand, the FoW 'community' doesn't have a problem with things like models from alternative companies, or 'non-historical' paint schemes, or whatever.
In fact, there's rumors that they might...appreciate creativity.
I plan on testing this theory.
Cuz I'll tell ya straight up that I find having an army called 'The Waffen SS' somewhat...off-putting.
From what I understand, they did some uncool things (to put it mildly), but this is neither the time nor place to get into that.
Also, many FoW events require you to have a written 'fluff thingy' for your army, and I wanna have something that's not...uh, scary, I guess.
I'll be honest here- REAL war is a tragic, horrific thing. WWII is a well-documented event. Pretty much everything about it is heart wrenching...
So here's the inspiration for SinSynn's fluff:
This is true with Flames of War models as much as any other models anywhere.
No, I like the way the finished product looks...
It's building them that drives me nuts.
I swear...I've built five Tiger 1E (late) Tanks now, and each one tried my patience.
I've never 'Rage-Quit' my beloved hobby desk before, ever.
Those models made me do it.
I literally said, 'Screw this! I'm outta here!'
....to a 15mm Tank Model.
It beat me.
-_-
Did I mention that a lot of Battlfront's minis don't come with instructions, even?
I had a hell of a time using the diagram I found on their websit to build my Bergepanzer recovery vehicle, for instance.
I was NOT a happy camper.
Even less happy when I look at all the extra parts in my 88 Platoon box, that look like something cool that I have NO IDEA WHAT TO DO WITH.
It's a well established fact that the Panzer IVH from Battlefront is a nightmare, due to the sideskirts.
Fortunately for me (and you, and everybody, really), there are alternatives available with THIS GAME.
Oh yeah- you heard it right...you can go and get 15mm WWII models from OTHER COMPANIES, and play them anywhere, even at 'official' events.
TAH-DAH! How cool is that?
So I'm buying my 15mm Panzer IVH's from The Plastic Soldier Company.
I've already got their Troopies, which are awesome-130 dudes for about 30 bucks!
Half-Tracks should be available here in the USA soon, and Stugs and Panthers by Christmas.
By next year you'll be able to field a big German Army for cheap! And all in friendly plastic.
You'll still need some 'official' models, like Cannons and other sundry specialty stuff, but the core of your force (tanks, troopies and half-tracks) can come entirely from the Plastic Soldier Company.
Three Cheers!!!!!
Of course, Battlefront will still make plenty of money selling you the Rulebook and several 'Army List' books (probably a bunch of those, cuz they keep releasing new ones) and their terrain is lovely, of course....you'll want those special markers, dice and other goodies with your army's logo on it, and there's a Wagames Illustrated Magazine that comes highly recommended (I haven't checked it out yet, White Dwarf has scarred me for life)...you get the point....
From what I understand, the FoW 'community' doesn't have a problem with things like models from alternative companies, or 'non-historical' paint schemes, or whatever.
In fact, there's rumors that they might...appreciate creativity.
I plan on testing this theory.
Cuz I'll tell ya straight up that I find having an army called 'The Waffen SS' somewhat...off-putting.
From what I understand, they did some uncool things (to put it mildly), but this is neither the time nor place to get into that.
Also, many FoW events require you to have a written 'fluff thingy' for your army, and I wanna have something that's not...uh, scary, I guess.
I'll be honest here- REAL war is a tragic, horrific thing. WWII is a well-documented event. Pretty much everything about it is heart wrenching...
For myself, I have to find a way to...not think about what a flame-thrower actually DOES to a human being.
Cuz, really- who the hell thought up that thing? Jesus H. Christ....what a world....So here's the inspiration for SinSynn's fluff:
*That's right folks, it's the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense!*
Hellboy and Company have some great 'Evil German Scientist' fluff goin' on.
As does the videogame series Castle Wolfenstein, and Call of Duty even, with it's 'Zombie Mode.'
The Manga and Anime Hellsing is particularly cool, with it's 'Fourth Reich' Vampire and Werewolf bad guys.
I plan on naming my army the Spectre Division, and I'll just say they ran around during WWII seeking out...the secrets of the occult, and Xenos relics...mwahahahaha!
Oh, you know I'm gonna work the Xenos in there somehow...
Once I get knowledgeable with the rules and settle on a list, I'll hit a tournament.
And I'll do it with an army full of models that aren't painted in any scheme ever known historically, with models that aren't 'official,' even.
(I've already got 15mm 'Aliens and Robots' for my HQ's!)
So...wait'll they get a load of me, huh?
I'm playing Flames of War for the lolz, folks...strictly for the lolz.
I'm not looking to 'win' (or lose, particularly), or anything like that. I wanna meet cool folks and get my game on, and have a laugh doing it...over some cool terrain...
If I wanted 'stress' over 'fluff' and similar nonsense (like 'official models'), well then I can always play 40k, right?
Now I've played a few more games, my next venture is to get my army ready enough to take it out in public.
That'll happen soon (less than a week, in fact)- I'll let you know how it goes!
Until next time- Have a very Xenos Day!
See? I can say that now, cuz my Germans are like, all supernatural and whatnot...nyah...
:P
-SinSynn
As does the videogame series Castle Wolfenstein, and Call of Duty even, with it's 'Zombie Mode.'
The Manga and Anime Hellsing is particularly cool, with it's 'Fourth Reich' Vampire and Werewolf bad guys.
I plan on naming my army the Spectre Division, and I'll just say they ran around during WWII seeking out...the secrets of the occult, and Xenos relics...mwahahahaha!
Oh, you know I'm gonna work the Xenos in there somehow...
Once I get knowledgeable with the rules and settle on a list, I'll hit a tournament.
And I'll do it with an army full of models that aren't painted in any scheme ever known historically, with models that aren't 'official,' even.
(I've already got 15mm 'Aliens and Robots' for my HQ's!)
So...wait'll they get a load of me, huh?
I'm playing Flames of War for the lolz, folks...strictly for the lolz.
I'm not looking to 'win' (or lose, particularly), or anything like that. I wanna meet cool folks and get my game on, and have a laugh doing it...over some cool terrain...
If I wanted 'stress' over 'fluff' and similar nonsense (like 'official models'), well then I can always play 40k, right?
Now I've played a few more games, my next venture is to get my army ready enough to take it out in public.
That'll happen soon (less than a week, in fact)- I'll let you know how it goes!
Until next time- Have a very Xenos Day!
See? I can say that now, cuz my Germans are like, all supernatural and whatnot...nyah...
:P
-SinSynn
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